Understanding Procedures:Root Canal

Root canals are typically performed on a tooth when there has been damage to the nerve and blood vessels found inside the tooth. This area of the tooth is known as the pulp. A root canal removes the damaged nerve and blood vessels from the inside of the tooth, the canals (tunnels found inside the tooth where the pulp is located) are cleaned and shaped, and the space inside the tooth is sealed.

During a root canal, your dentist will numb the tooth similar to many other dental procedures so that you are comfortable during treatment. Typically, once numb, all that you will notice during the procedure will be vibration. If there is ever anything more than that, please let your dentist know – a little more anesthetic usually will make sure that you are comfortable.

The dentist will normally isolate the tooth that is being worked on by placing a thin sheet of rubber, known as a rubber dam, over the tooth. This step will help make sure that everything that the dentist is using to perform the root canal stays on his side of the tooth and does not get in your mouth. After the tooth has been isolated, your dentist will make a small opening into the tooth in order to obtain access into pulp. At this point, he will start to remove the damaged nerve and blood vessels from the inside of the tooth. Part of this process involves identifying how many tunnels are located inside the tooth and how long each tunnel is. Next, your provider will start to clean and shape the canals. The goal is to make the inside of each canal look like the inside of an ice-cream cone, giving it a funnel-shaped appearance. As this step is occurring, the dentist will flush out the canals with various washes in order to remove any loose debris and to help disinfect the inside of the tooth. Once the pulp has been removed, it is time to place a filling material inside the tooth to seal up the area where the nerves and blood vessels were once located. This step helps minimize the amount of bacteria that can live in the middle of the tooth. The tooth is typically sealed up with a material known as gutta percha. At this point, the root canal procedure is complete.

Most patients actually do very well following a root canal. The major thing a patient may report following a root canal is a little soreness located at the base of the tooth. This discomfort is usually controlled very well by pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If infection is present, your dentist may also place you on an antibiotic to help with your comfort and to speed up the healing process.