Root canal or endodontic treatment is scary, right? Wrong - it certainly shouldn't be. Root canal treatment saves teeth that would otherwise need extraction and that can only be a good thing. The horror stories that you may have heard regarding the treatment being painful are also wrong; its the infection within the tooth that is painful. Removal of the nerve supply to the tooth means that endodontic treatment should not be painful.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Endodontic treatment will rid the tooth of harmful bugs or bacteria within the root canal system. Tooth decay or gum disease cause damage to the tooth and allow bugs to enter into the nerve structure. These bugs and bacteria cause inflammation within the nerve structure. The nerve is a little brain within each tooth and this grey mater expands when it becomes inflamed. This is similar to when you get a headache, however, when the brain expands, the skull bones are also able to shift and allow expansion. As the tooth is a closed unit, i.e. it does not expand, the expansion from inflammation is acutely painful. Any of you that have experienced tooth pain will be able to vouch for that, I'm sure.
Untreated, an infected root canal system will cause the infection to progress to a dental abscess which in turn, will cause the face to swell up. This abscess is full of pus and will require drainage.
Endodontic treatment removes the infected nerve structure from within the tooth, leaving a hollow tooth. It's a bit like taking the fuse out of a plug. After disinfection of the internal aspect of the tooth, the root canal structure is filled by a material known as gutta percha to prevent bugs and bacteria from re-entering the system. Finally, a dental crown or similar will restore the tooth to a functional state.
Who provides Root Canal Treatment?
A general dentist or an endodontist performs endodontics. An endodontist is a dentist who specialises in root treatments. The procedure involves the use of specialised equipment such as rubber dam and a dental microscope.