Millions of teeth are saved with root canal treatment every year. If it has been a while since your last one, or you have never had one, today’s treatment is likely more comfortable than you expect.
What is endodontic treatment?
“Endo” is Greek for “inside” and “odont” means “tooth.” Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth, and root canal treatment is the most common kind.
Under the white enamel and a hard layer called dentin is soft tissue called the pulp. It holds blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, and runs from the crown down to the tip of each root. The pulp is important while a tooth is growing, but a fully developed tooth can live without it because the tissues around the root keep nourishing it.
Why would I need one?
Treatment is needed when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. Common causes are deep decay, repeated dental work on the tooth, or a crack or chip. A blow to a tooth can damage the pulp even when no crack is visible. Left untreated, an inflamed or infected pulp can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
Signs include pain, lingering sensitivity to heat or cold, darkening of the tooth, and swelling or tenderness in the nearby gums. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
How treatment saves the tooth
Inflamed or infected pulp
Deep decay, a crack or an injury lets bacteria reach the pulp. It swells, hurts, and can cause an infection at the root tip.
Gentle cleaning
With your tooth numb, Dr. Warren makes a small opening and uses the microscope and fine instruments to remove the pulp and disinfect every canal.
Filled and sealed
The clean canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha, and a temporary filling closes the top.
Restored and healed
Your dentist places a crown or permanent filling. The bone around the root heals over the following months.
What happens at your appointment
Treatment is often finished in one or two visits.
- Exam, imaging and numbingWe examine and image the tooth, then give local anesthetic. A small sheet called a dental dam keeps the tooth clean and dry.
- Cleaning the canalsThrough a small opening in the top of the tooth, Dr. Warren removes the pulp and cleans and shapes the canals, working under the surgical microscope.
- Filling and sealingThe canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed with an adhesive cement. A temporary filling closes the opening.
- Back to your dentistYour dentist places a crown or other restoration to protect the tooth and restore full function. If there is not enough tooth left to hold it, a post may be placed inside the tooth.
Common questions
Will it hurt?
Many root canals are done to relieve the pain of an infected or inflamed tooth. With modern techniques and anesthetic, most patients are comfortable during treatment. The tooth may be tender for a few days, especially if it hurt or was infected before. Over-the-counter or prescription medicine usually controls this. Call us if you have severe pain or pressure, or pain that lasts more than a few days.
How much does it cost?
Cost depends on how complex the problem is and which tooth is involved. Molars are harder to treat and usually cost more. Most dental insurance covers endodontic treatment. Saving a tooth is generally less expensive than removing it and replacing it with an implant or bridge. We give you a written estimate before treatment.
Does the tooth need special care afterward?
Do not chew or bite on the treated tooth until your dentist has restored it, because an unrestored tooth can break. See your dentist for the permanent restoration as soon as possible. After that, brush, floss and keep up with regular checkups. Most treated teeth last as long as your other natural teeth.
Can every tooth be saved?
Most can. Occasionally a tooth cannot be saved because the canals cannot be reached, the root is badly fractured, there is not enough bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. When a root canal alone is not enough, endodontic microsurgery may still save the tooth.
What if it does not heal?
Occasionally a treated tooth does not heal, or becomes painful months or years later. Often another procedure, retreatment or microsurgery, can still save it.
See the instructions for after your root canal.
Adapted from patient information by the American Association of Endodontists. Every tooth is different; Dr. Warren will explain what applies to yours at your exam.