ROOT CANAL

• This figure shows us a cross section of a tooth with an abscess caused by tooth decay. Bacteria inside the upper part of the tooth reaches the inside of the tooth (pulp). They then proceed down the roots infecting the nerve tissue as they move along. Ending up at the tip of the root the bacteria start to multiply and to ‘eat’ away at the bone. Pressure builds up which causes extreme pain.
• Your dentist will then make an opening on top of the tooth to gain access to the inside (pulp).
• An instrument called an ‘endodontic file’ is used to remove all the infected tissue. Your dentist will take numerous x-rays during the ‘cleaning’ of the roots to make sure that the whole length of the root has been cleaned.
• A rubber point called ‘Gutta Percha’ is placed inside the roots. The purpose of this is to place a barrier between the outside world and your body so that bacteria cannot follow the same route and cause an infection again.
• To understand the following step in treating a root canal treated tooth please read the ‘Ups and Downs’ below. A metal free pin (called a ‘fibre-post’) is placed in one or more of the roots. Metal free filling material is used to reinforce the core of the tooth.
• A porcelain crown is then placed to give optimum strength to the tooth.
• Ups: If the root canal treatment was done properly, this tooth will never pain again.
• Downs: Not only nerve tissue is removed but blood vessels as well. As we all know blood contains a lot of water. A root canal treated tooth will gradually dehydrate and become brittle. Fractures of root canal treated teeth are inevitable. It’s just a matter of time. That is why it is always a good idea to crown a root canal treated tooth.

CONTACT

would love to hear from you so please fill out the form below, include as much information as possible, and we will get back to you soonest