Root Canal Treatment

Once bacteria cause extensive inflammation or infection of pulp tissue, this diseased tissue must be removed and the canals in the center of the tooth must be disinfected. Taking antibiotics or other medications cannot remove this diseased tissue nor can these medications disinfect root canals because the blood vessels that would deliver those medications to the site of infection are destroyed when bacteria infect the root canal.

What happens during endodontic treatment?

After numbing the tooth, the problem that allowed bacteria to enter the center of the tooth is corrected by removing tooth decay or cracks. If enough healthy tooth remains after this process to allow your dentist to rebuild the missing tooth structure, root canal treatment begins. An opening is made through the chewing surface of your tooth to enter the pulp chamber— the center portion of the tooth where pulp tissues from different root canals merge together. The pulp chamber and root canals are then shaped with small instruments to allow disinfectants to reach to the very tip of your root.

Once the canals and chamber are cleaned and dried, the root canals are filled with a rubber-like material and adhesive cement.  The pulp chamber and opening in the chewing surface of your tooth are then filled with a temporary filling material to protect the root canal treatment until your dentist can rebuild your tooth.

Properly performed root canal treatment decreases the number of bacteria in infected roots by more than 99% and promotes healing of infected tissues surrounding teeth that could cause serious health problems if left untreated.