A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
Step 1: The Dentist will then use local anesthesia to numb the area near the tooth. This is used to make the patient more relaxed and comfortable.
Step 2: The dentist will place a rubber dam around the tooth to keep the area dry and free of saliva during treatment
Step 3: An access hole will then be drilled into the tooth. The pulp along with bacteria, the decayed nerve tissue and related debris is removed from the tooth. The cleaning out process is done using root canal files. Water or sodium hypochlorite is used periodically to flush away the debris.
Step 4: Then the canals are closed with a sealer paste and a rubber material called Gutta Percha. However, if there is an infection, he may put a medication inside the tooth to clear it up. If the root canal is not completed on the same day, a temporary filling is placed in the access hole in the tooth to keep contaminants out between appointments.
Step 5: The dentist will now restore the tooth either will a composite filling or for a stronger more reliable solution a Crown will be placed, this will keep the tooth from fracturing.
Root Canal Treatment
