WHAT IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?

The nerve of a tooth can die of an insult or injury that is too damaging for the tooth to survive. Some common reasons include decay, trauma, grinding, or periodontal disease. There are other reasons teeth can die, but once this has happened, you’re at risk of developing a dental abscess. To minimize this risk of developing an infection or to treat the infection, the dentist needs to remove the dead or infected nerve from within the tooth root. Once the nerve has been removed, the nerve canal is carefully cleaned, prepared, and sterilized so that a filling material can be put into the canal spaces.

WHAT DOES ROOT CANAL TREATMENT INVOLVE?

Root canal treatment is likely to take several appointments to complete, depending on the difficulty of the procedure. The dentist will remove the nerve from the tooth and then use a series of instruments to prepare the tooth for the root filling. The dentist will use X-rays or other instruments to determine the length of each root before and during the treatment. During treatment, the dentist will need to isolate the tooth and use a ‘rubber dam’. This is a sheet of plaque that creates a clean area around the tooth so that the root is not contaminated by your saliva and bacteria.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO THE PROCEDURE?

• Any invasive procedure carries risk, and root canal treatment is no different. Possible risks and complications include:
• If the root canal treatment fails, you may have to have the tooth removed.
• Tooth fracture: due to reduced strength and durability of the tooth.
• Mild temporary pain due to inflammation of the issues surrounding the tooth.
• Occasionally, despite the very best of efforts, the root canal can become infected during and/or
  after treatment. Sometimes, this can happen months or years after the original root canal treatment.
  If infection occurs, you may need to have the tooth retreated, often with a specialist, or removed.
• In some cases, the files can penetrate through the sides or base of the tooth, which is called perforation. Often, if this happens, the tooth may need removal.
• Once the nerve is removed, the tooth can slowly discolor. This can be treated in a range of different ways, and your dentist can explain these options to you.
• Your root-treated tooth will become increasingly brittle over time. You should avoid eating hard food on the tooth to minimize the risk of the tooth fracturing and generally place a crown over the tooth to prevent fractures.
• Occasionally, the local anesthetic used in your dental injection can cause irritation to the nerve. If this is the case, the numbness can last much longer. However, on rare occasions, the numbness can be permanent.