What is a root canal?

 


Learn how long a root canal takes and what factors may affect the treatment timeline

A root canal, also referred to as endodontic treatment, is a dental procedure which aims to treat or remove the damaged and diseased soft tissue from within an infected tooth.

The soft tissue inside your tooth is called pulp—a living tissue consisting of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. Every tooth has a pulp that is located in the pulp chamber extending to the canal roots of a tooth. The pulp feeds the tooth and keeps it and the roots healthy. It is the connection path to the gums and bones.

When an infection or inflammation begins to compromise the pulp, it will affect the entire pulp tissue. If not treated with a root canal, the infection can spread down to the roots and cause the formation of a pocket of pus at the tooth’s root, known as a dental abscess. This is a very serious infection and can spread to other teeth and other parts of the body.

Common reasons that cause infection in the pulp include:

  • Tooth decay or deep cavities that has damaged enamel extensively, allowing bacteria to penetrate into the pulp
  • Dental injuries such as cracked or chipped tooth
  • Having repeated dental work done on the same tooth
  • Damage to the cementum—the layer covering the roots— due to decay and untreated exposed tooth root

What does the root canal procedure involve?

Root canals are routine dental procedures that can be performed by a dentist in your regular dental appointment. More commonly and especially with complex cases, your procedure may be referred to an endodontist. They are dentists who specialize in dental pulp and have additional training with pain diagnosis and difficult-to-do root canals that can save your natural teeth. 

Here are the steps you can expect during a root canal procedure:

1. Your dentist will use numbing agents and inject local anesthetic to numb the affected tooth or teeth and the area surrounding it.

2. Your dentist or endodontist will drill a small hole on top of the tooth to expose the inside of the tooth. They start to clean out the infection or remove the damaged tissue from the pulp chamber and the root canals.

3. They may apply medication to the inside of your tooth to disinfect all the remaining parts, killing all the bacteria and preventing the risk of reinfection.

4. Your tooth will be filled and sealed with special synthetic material. If your treatment should be completed in one appointment, the tooth will be restored with a permanent restoration. Otherwise, a temporary filling is placed until you get a permanent crown or a filling over your tooth.

"Wondering about the time it takes for a root canal? Explore the average duration of a root canal procedure and factors influencing the treatment timeline. Find out more here."

 

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