Root Canal Treatment

Each tooth is unique in shape, size and position in the mouth.

Each tooth has a unique shaped space or spaces, called canal(s), within it that contain blood vessels and nerve tissues that supply the tooth during development and throughout its normal healthy life. This nerve tissue is what gives the tooth the ability to let us know when there are changes in temperature and when the health of the tooth has changed.

Root canal treatment is necessary if this tissue becomes damaged by trauma, infected from bacteria due to untreated cavities, or has severe swelling.

What it is:

A root canal (endodontic) treatment treats the inside of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development. If the pulp is diseased or injured and is unable to repair itself, it loses vitality. Common causes of pulp vitality or death include: cracked tooth, deep cavity and traumatic injury to the tooth. Bacteria can leak into the pulp and an abscess can form at the end of the root, resulting in pain and swelling. Root canal treatment saves the natural tooth so it doesn’t have to be extracted. A natural tooth is normally better than an artificial tooth.

Procedure:

Before Dr. Zaugg starts any endodontic procedure, he performs diagnostic testing which includes:

• PA X-ray
• Tap Test
• Cold Sensitivity Test

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

• Dr. Zaugg removes the pulp and replaces it with a biocompatible material called Gutta Percha
  • The pulp is important during the tooth’s development and growth
    • When a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it

• Treatment usually involves one to three visits to our office
  • First, Dr. Zaugg removes the diseased pulp and cleans out the tissues within the tooth canal(s) with small files to widen and shape the root canal
  • The pulp chamber and root canal(s) are then cleaned with a disinfecting solution, shaped, filled with a material called Gutta Percha and sealed off with an antibacterial sealer from the bone surrounding the root to prevent bacteria from re-infecting the root
    • If considerable tooth structure is loss, a metal or resin rod or post may be placed in the root canal for structural support
  • A crown is usually then placed over the tooth to protect and restore it to full function and reduce risk of tooth fracture
• In advanced cases, nonsurgical endodontic treatment alone can’t save a tooth and may need surgery
  • There are a number of endodontic surgical procedures to save a tooth
    • The gum tissue is opened near the tooth to see underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissues
    • The end of the root is also removed
    • A small filling is used to seal the root canal and stiches or sutures are placed in the gum to help the tissue heal properly
  • Other surgeries can include:
    • Dividing the tooth in half to repair the injured root
    • Removing the root altogether
    • Extracting the tooth

Benefits:

Root canal treatment does not remove the root of the tooth, eliminates pain and infection, allows the area affected to return to a healthy state, and can allow the tooth to remain in place for many years instead of being removed.

*For long-term root canal success, it is imperative that the treated tooth receive the proper filling or crown placed on it to maintain a seal against oral fluids and bacteria.