Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a coloquial therm for endodontic therapy. It is related to the procedures done on the pulp of a tooth with the purpose of eliminating an existent infection or preventing future invasions. A routine root canal procedure includes: drilling, removal of infected pulp, filling and when no infection signs are present, a crown is placed into the tooth (most commonly).

The root canal is the zone within the root of a tooth. It is part of the space within a tooth that consists of the pulp chamber (within the coronal part of the tooth), the main canal(s), and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root. The smaller branches are most frequently found near the root end (apex) but may be encountered anywhere along the root length.

This procedure is relatively painfull even when done properly that’s why is considered as one of the most feared procedures in all of dentistry. The pain can be controlled by using Lidocaine as local lanaesthetic. To solve the problem, the dentist drills into the pulp chamber and removes the infected pulp by scraping it out of the root canals. Once this is done, the dentist fills the cavity with an inert material and seals up the opening. The standard material l is gutta-percha which is a natural thermoplastic polymer of isoprene, which is melted and injected to fill the root canal passages. After the procedure, the tooth must be protected with a special crown that covers the surface giving special protection.

For the last twenty years, there have been great innovations in the art and science of root canal therapy. Dentist are now prepared with new techniques and with time, the procedure will be less painful for the patient.

For more details and additional information, please contact us. We are glad to serve you.