If your tooth's nerve chamber becomes effected by decay, root canal treatment
is often the only way to save your tooth.
Inside your tooth's hard outer shell is a nourishing pulp of blood vessels,
lymph vessels and nerves. The root canals, which contain the pulp, extend to
the bone.
Deep tooth decay, or an injury, can cause serious damage and infection to
the pulp's nerves and vessels. Root canal, or endodontic, treatment cleans
out the infected pulp chamber and repairs the damage.
Some indications of the
need for root canal treatment may be:
Spontaneous pain
or throbbing while biting
Long lasting or severe sensitivity to hot and cold
foods
Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone
Procedure
Step 1:
After the tooth is anesthetized, an opening is made through the crown
into the pulp chamber.
Step 2:
The length of the root canals is determined.
Step 3:
Unhealthy pulp is removed. the canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
Step 4:
Canals are filled and sealed.
Step 5:
The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. A gold or porcelain crown
may be made for the tooth to provide further protection.
The materials used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime,
but eventually the filling or crown may need to be replaced.
If your tooth's nerve chamber becomes effected by decay, root canal treatment
is often the only way to save your tooth.
