When a tooth experiences severe damage due to infection or injury, a root canal procedure can often save the tooth from requiring extraction.
During a root canal treatment or endodontic procedure, the tooth's infected or deceased pulp chamber is cleaned out and filled with a special material known as gutta percha. It’s basically like a dental filling for the inner roots of your tooth. If root canal therapy is not performed on an infected tooth, this infection can affect the surrounding tissues and bone. This is why it is so important to see a professional about a problematic tooth sooner than later.
During a typical root canal therapy procedure, the tooth will first be isolated using a rubber dam in order to protect it from bacteria and moisture. Next, the dentist or endodontist will numb the area using a local anesthetic for a pain-free procedure. Then, he or she will make a small entryway into the tooth's surface to access the pulp of the tooth. The canals will be cleaned out, prepared and filled, and lastly, a filling material and ultimately a dental crown will be placed on the tooth to protect it from future damage.
There are a variety of different dental crowns made from different materials that patients can choose to cap off their treatment. Our Toronto dentist is always happy to discuss options with the patient when it comes to choosing the right crown for their treated tooth.
The success rate for root canal procedures is very high – and patients can often keep their treated tooth for years to come provided they look after it properly.