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Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment is the process of removing the dental pulp, which is the small tissue located at the center of the tooth. This treatment is necessary due to infections at the root tip, tooth fractures, cracks, or deep decay that reaches the pulp chamber containing nerves and blood vessels. These conditions can cause pain and swelling in the affected area. In some cases, it may lead to damage to the jawbone or muscles, as well as infection and inflammation within the tooth cavity.
The tooth has three main components as follows:
Root canal treatment is the process of removing the dental pulp, a small tissue located at the center of the tooth. This is necessary due to infection at the root tip, tooth fracture, crack, or deep decay that reaches the pulp chamber containing nerves and blood vessels. These conditions can cause pain and swelling in the affected area, and sometimes damage to the jawbone or muscles, including infection and inflammation in the tooth cavity.
- Enamel: This is the outermost and hardest part of the tooth.
- Dentin: This layer is between the enamel and the pulp chamber. It’s highly sensitive, so when the enamel is damaged exposing the dentin, or when there are temperature changes in the mouth, it can cause tooth sensitivity.
- Dental pulp: This part consists of blood vessels and nerves that nourish the tooth. The pulp is extremely sensitive to stimuli due to its high concentration of nerve endings. If the enamel and dentin are damaged to the extent that the pulp is exposed, tooth pain will occur.
The main reasons for root canal treatment include
- Cracked tooth
- Severe tooth decay
- Accidents, such as a tooth receiving a severe impact, whether it occurred in the past or recently
- Treatment for cosmetic dental procedures
How is root canal treatment done?
The root canal treatment process is as follows:
Step 1: The dentist will administer local anesthesia, then drill into the tooth to drain pus and remove infected tooth material. After the damaged pulp is removed,
Step 2: The dentist will clean the root canal. This step may require more than one visit, or in some cases, medication may be placed inside the tooth to ensure thorough disinfection.
Step 3: Once the root canal is thoroughly disinfected, the dentist will seal the canal. This is the final step of the root canal treatment.
Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment will have less tooth structure remaining, which may make them more prone to fracture or breakage than normal teeth. Therefore, the dentist will recommend a dental crown to reinforce the tooth. For front teeth or teeth with very little natural tooth structure left, the dentist may recommend a post in addition to a crown.
However, in some cases where a patient has previously had root canal treatment and a crown, unexpected complications may occur, such as additional infection or incomplete elimination of bacteria during the initial treatment. In such cases, retreatment of the root canal may be necessary.