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A guide to Root Canal Treatment

What are Root canals?

Every tooth has its nerve and blood supply, running in tiny canals located in its 3-dimensional centre. These canals are called as Root canals.These nerve and blood vessels that supply the tooth is called as the "toothpulp”.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is the procedure that is done to remove the infected nerves and blood vessels (pulp of the tooth) from inside the tooth, so that the infection is prevented from spreading and the tooth be saved.

How does the tooth pulp get infected?

The most common reason for the tooth/tooth pulp to get infected is tooth decay. Tooth decay starts on the top covering – enamel of the tooth, and if left untreated it can invade deeper layers of tooth and eventually infect the pulp causing infection and pain. There are also other reasons like trauma or fracture of the tooth, cracks in the tooth that will involve the pulp causing infection and pain.

What are the symptoms or how do I know my tooth is infected?

When the tooth/tooth pulp gets infected one may suffer from any one of the following  symptoms

•  Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets that lingers for a long time.
•  Tooth that hurts while chewing or clenching your teeth.
•  Dull pain that persists for a long time.
•  Severe pain that prevents you from sleeping or wakes you up from sleep.
•  Change in the colour or darkening of a tooth.
•  Small boil in the gum close to the tooth, from which pus/liquid might ooze.

However there is also a possibility that a tooth is infected,
but is absolutely painless and symptom free. Such a tooth
is however diagnosed by the dentist clinically or by using
x-rays.

Is root canal treatment done only for infected tooth?

Root canal treatment can sometimes be done for a tooth that is not infected. This is called intentional root canal treatment.This is done to facilitate replacement of missing teeth by using bridges, or sometimes to correct the inclination or angulation of teeth.

Is root canal treatment painful?

No, with the kind of advancements in technology and equipment,root canal treatment is far less painful than imagined.The dentist would normally numb the tooth using anesthetic injections before the procedure. In fact root canal treatment  is done to reduce the pain associated with an infected tooth.

Will there be pain after the procedure?

There is normally no discomfort following the treatment.However in few cases that are very badly infected with an abscess/pus, there could be a very minor discomfort in the next 2 days, which will however be taken care by the medicines prescribed by your dentist.

What medicines are prescribed following root canal treatment and for how long?

Normally the dentist would prescribe pain killers for 3-5days. However depending upon the infection present antibiotics may also be required. This will be decided by your
dentist.

How long does it take to do a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure.Normally it would take 2 sittings for the procedure.

At the first appointment, the infected pulp is removed andany abscesses can be drained. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. Medications are placed inside the root canals and a temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle.

The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled with an inert and biocompatible material. Severely infected cases would take more than 2 sittings also. However with the availability of expertise and advancements in the equipments used for the procedure, some of the cases especially the intentional root canal procedures are done as single visit procedures.

Is there an alternative?

You could have the whole tooth extracted, but it’s always better to try to save it — especially since root canal treatment is routine and has a very high success rate. Saving the tooth can prevent other troubles in future like bite problems from teeth shifting position, difficulty eating, and loss of jawbone volume etc. Moreover extracting and replacing the tooth is a
much costlier option than saving it.

What are the consequences of not treating an infected
tooth?

An infected tooth has to be treated, either it has to be saved by doing a root canal treated or it has to be removed. If left untreated, the infection from the tooth pulp will spread beyond the tooth into the bone, and sometimes even into the soft tissues of the face and neck, causing what is called an abscess/cellulitis, which can prove dangerous.Will my root canal treated tooth last long?

Yes it will last for a long time, provided the tooth is adequately
protected by a cap/crown on top. Excellent oral hygiene
after your root canal treatment can help ensure success
and prevent reinfection.

Why is a crown so essential on top of a root canaltreated tooth? Can I go without a crown following root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is done because the nerve and bloodsupply of a tooth is infected and lost. Hence the tooth will not have its necessary nourishment. In other words it is a dead tooth. Hence to prevent the tooth from breaking due to biting/chewing, the dentist will fit a cap/crown on top of it.

Also such a tooth whose blood supply is lost, will eventually change colour or become visibly darker and appear unappealing or uncosmetic, especially if it in the front region. Hence to overcome the above and to ensure longevity of the tooth a cap or crown is a must.


What are the types of crowns available?

There are several types of crowns available, for eg. regular metal ceramic crowns which has a cobalt-cromium alloy that looks black from inside and tooth colour ceramic outside. There is also zirconia ceramic crowns and even metal free all ceramic crowns. The dentist would discuss the pros and cons of each and help you in deciding the best type of crown suitable for you.

What special care should one take for a root canal treated tooth?

The root canal treated tooth requires the same care just like your normal tooth. Brush twice a day with a fluoride containing tooth paste. And visit your dentist once every six
months.

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