Know the Stages of Root Canal Treatment

When the bacteria from decay has spread so deeply into the tooth that blood supply and nerves in the root canal get jeopardized, you require a root canal treatment procedure. It can be time-consuming. However, every step helps to minimize the risk of reinfection.

Root Canal Treatment Steps

Below are the steps for root canal therapy:

1. Diagnosis of Infected Pulp

The dentist has to assess what has gone wrong with your painful tooth. There are multiple reasons that could lead to an infected tooth. A root canal helps in healing and saving the infected and decayed tooth.

2. Performing X-Rays

Then, the endodontist takes a series of x-rays of the affected tooth. It gives them a clear picture of the root canal and helps evaluate the severity of the damage. When the infection is left untreated, it can move into the nearby bone tissues and wreak havoc.

3. Use of Local Anesthesia

Before carrying out the root canal treatment, the expert uses a painkiller medicine known as a local anesthetic. It numbs the gum and tooth nearby it. If the pulp has inflammation, it may take some time to get numbed.

The endodontist will not start the process until it is. When the patient’s tooth has died and he/she feels no sensitivity, the expert may not use anesthesia.

4. Use of Dental Dam

The professional will now add a rubber sheet (i.e., a dental dam throughout the tooth to ensure it stays dry. This rubber substance separates the infected teeth (that require a root canal) by covering other teeth. It also prevents you from breathing or swallowing the chemicals the endodontist uses.

5. Drilling

The professional will now drill a hole in the affected tooth. It lets the pulp, nerves, and bacteria drain.

6. Removal of Damaged Pulp 

Then, the expert will use tiny files of different diameters to access the root tip and trim off the damaged region inside the affected tooth. It also enlarges the root canals and creates a standard shape for the filling. It makes the root canal super clean and prevents future infections.

It might take several hours and multiple visits. If the tooth has more roots, the longer it will take to complete. The expert uses water or sodium hypochlorite to eliminate the leftover bacteria.

7. Drainage of Pus

Then, using a drill to often the affected tooth to assess the center of pulp. In case of a dental abscess, the expert drains it immediately.

8. Placement of Temporary Filling

The next stage includes filling the tooth pulp chamber with a small amount of medicine. It lets the patient’s body eradicate the infection in the cleaned canal.

After the pulp chamber is clean and dry, the endodontist then adds a temporary filling to mask and seal the newly drilled hole into the root canal. The filling material is known as gutta-percha.

The expert heats it later on. He/she also compresses gutta-percha so that it fits against the walls properly. It makes the tooth as strong as it was before it got infected.

9. Removal of Temporary Filling and Final Sealing

In the next step, you need to schedule an appointment with the professional to get rid of the temporary filling after a few weeks. He/she will then place a permanent filling over the treated tooth. The expert seals the tooth to prevent further cracking and infection. For filling the root canal, he/she adds an adhesive cement sealer.

10. Addition of a Dental Crown (If Required)

Root-filled teeth are more prone to breakage. That is why the dentist recommends using a crown. It offers excellent protection to the tooth. The expert will minimize the tooth size with a drill. Then, he/she puts a crown over the tooth.

The endodontist will take your tooth mold to ensure that the crown fits the tooth perfectly. The expert uses cement to stick the cap to the trimmed-out tooth. He/she cements a post in the root canal if there is a tiny amount of tooth remaining. It helps the dental crown stay in its position.

Know More About the Treatment at Rose City Dental Today

Getting a root canal treatment in Welland, ON helps prevent infection, damage, and inflammation to the decaying enamel and the nearby regions. Call our clinic today.