A therapeutic procedure to treat an infection of the soft inner core (the dental pulp) in the tooth. The pulp or nerve is the soft tissue inside the natural crown and root portions of the tooth. The pulp contains the nerves, blood vessels, and lymph vessels and is contained within a structure of the tooth called the pulp chamber. Root canals are thin tunnels that extend from the pulp chamber in the natural crown of a tooth down into the bottom tip of the root where a small opening connects the small nerves and blood vessels to the larger structures in the gum. All teeth have at least one root canal, and some larger teeth may have as many as four root canals. Each root will have at least one canal and some will have two or more.
In the realm of dentistry, there exists a meticulous procedure aimed at eliminating diseased or damaged pulp from a tooth. This process involves the extraction of the affected pulp, followed by the meticulous filling and sealing of both the pulp chamber and the root canals. By undertaking this procedure, the tooth’s integrity and functionality can be restored while preventing further complications.
A dental treatment aimed at preserving a tooth when the pulp, which is the living tissue inside the tooth, has either died or become irreversibly diseased, often due to severe dental decay.
A root canal procedure is typically carried out using local anesthesia. Initial X-rays are taken to determine the length of the root canal. The key steps of the treatment are illustrated in accompanying images.
An opening is made in the tooth’s crown to empty the pulp chamber of its contents. Fine-tipped tools are then used to slightly widen and shape the root canals, with their length being measured. This process is often overseen through X-ray imaging. The chamber is flushed out, filled with antibiotic paste and a temporary filling. Days later, the temporary filling is taken out and the canals are inspected for sterility. If no infection is found, the chamber is sealed with a special paste and/or tapered gutta-percha resin points mixed with zinc and bismuth oxides. Finally, the roots are cemented to seal them. Incomplete filling can result in bacterial invasion, potentially causing periodontitis, which is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth.
Teeth that have been treated may become discolored and turn grey. However, their appearance can be improved through bonding techniques, by installing an artificial crown, or via bleaching.