Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is used to save a tooth with an infected or dead pulp (the soft tissue, containing nerves and extending to the root of each tooth) and to prevent infection from spreading.
Indications that a patient may need root canal therapy include spontaneous pain or throbbing when biting, high sensitivity to hot and cold foods, severe decay and an injury causing an abscess in the bone.
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic. The dentist will create an opening in the tooth the remove the pulp and determine the length of the canal the pulp is in. The canal will then be reshaped and prepared for root canal filling material. The canal, once filled, will then be sealed to prevent future infection.
The filling and sealing of the canal will occur in a subsequent visit or – depending on the complexity of the procedure – visits. A filling will be placed on top of the root filling after the root canal therapy is done.
Following the procedure, the patient may experience discomfort ranging from mild to serious discomfort, or a throbbing sensation in the head. Swelling of the gum and the face may occur.
The dentist may recommend a post, core and crown following root canal therapy to restore the tooth to typical form and function. A post is a metallic structure placed in the root of a tooth following root canal therapy. The core is the visible part of the post, used to anchor the crown.
