Root Canal Treatment

What is the dental pulp?

The  Dental pulp is the soft tissue which forms  the inner core of teeth that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. It lies within the tooth and extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.

Signs and appearance of teeth displaying bottle caries:
- Brown teeth with fragmented edges
- Upper front teeth that break easily

At 18 months of age, parents should be encouraged to ask their dentist to examine their child and recommend home care.

Why does the pulp need to be removed?

When the caries tooth get infected  by cariogenic microorganisms thus causing infection and later  pain and swelling.This infection can later spread to your jaw bones And if left untreated, pus builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a "pus-pocket" called an abscess. An abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth.  Without treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.
What does treatment involve?

Treatment often involves from one to four visits. During treatment, your general dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in problems of the pulp) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and later on filled up with the filling material.
 

How your tooth is saved by RCT
1. First, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth.
An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
2. The pulp is then removed. The root canal(s) is cleaned and shaped to a form that can be filled.
The pulp is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
3. Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help get rid of germs and prevent infection.
4. A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between dental visits. Your dentist may leave the tooth open for a few days to drain. You might also be given medicine to help control infection that may have spread beyond the tooth.The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.
5. The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber and root canal(s) are cleaned and filled.
6. In the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the tooth. If an endodontist performs the treatment, he or she will recommend that you return to your family dentist for this final step.
The crown of the tooth is then restored.

How long will the restored tooth last?
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will remain healthy.
Why is there a need for RCT?
Sometimes the pulp inside your tooth becomes inflamed or infected. This can be caused by deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, a crack or chip in the tooth, or a blow to the tooth due to trauma.

Is this a painful procedure?
Once the pulp is removed and the root canals are cleaned there is no pain. Many patients may be in great pain before seeking consultation ,but once the treatment is started there can be senstivity which gets relieved by proper medication.

What precautions or special care has to be taken we ny special care or additional treatment?
You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your general dentist because your tooth could fracture. Otherwise, just practice good oral hygiene - brushing, flossing and regular checkups and cleanings. Endodontically treated teeth can last for many years, even a lifetime.

What causes an endodontically treated tooth to need additional treatment?
New trauma, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can cause new infection in your tooth. In some cases, your endodontist may discover very narrow or curved canals that could not be treated during the initial procedure. Sometimes a treated tooth may need endodontic surgery to be saved.

What is endodontic surgery?
The most common endodontic surgical procedure is an apicoectomy or root-end resection. It is used to relieve inflammation or infection in the bony area around the end of your tooth that continues after endodontic treatment. The endodontist opens the gum tissue and removes the infected tissue and may remove the very end of the root. A small filling may be placed to seal the root canal