Root Canal treatment could be defined as a Dental procedure which helps in removing
the internal parts of the tooth, essentially the pulp chamber of the tooth. A root canal is a naturally occurring space within a tooth that comprises the pulp chamber, the main canals, and highly intricate anatomical branches that connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root.
The root canal treatment or root canal therapy involves the removal of the nervous elements of the tooth which have either been infected or decayed due to microbial action or any physical pressure. The treatment involves the filling of the empty cavity with a bio-compatible material.
How does Root canal treatment work?
First of all, the Dentist/Endodontist diagnoses a patient and advises him/her of the proper treatment if the Root canal is decayed. He then isolates the tooth area with the help of a rubber dam kit. The rubber dam kit is a rubber sheet fitted with clamps or clips and it is placed around the tooth which is to be treated. This isolation enables the dentist to operate smoothly and prevents the mixing of fluids from the motor and the saliva in the mouth. The dentist then prepares a cavity using an aerator. Then the root is entirely cleaned using root canal files. These root canal files go on increasing in thickness as they enter the root and help in the removal of the pulp of the tooth. The dentist would complete this entire procedure in a single seating or else, seal the cavity with a soothing medicine or a temporary filling material for a week until the next seating is called for. In the final stage, the root canal is filled with some bio-compatible plastic material followed by aesthetic regular cement filling which could be sometimes accompanied with crown placement.
Root canal treatment is advised if there is:
Severe toothache during chewing or during contact with extreme hot or cold temperature.
Constant pain in the tooth during chewing food & darkening of the tooth
Swelling is visible in the regions of gums around the teeth