A root canal treatment is a popular endodontic procedure commonly carried out to “save” a tooth with an inflamed or infected innermost pulp layer. This can result from the tooth suffering deep decay, or trauma following a dental accident or injury.
The tooth contains a protective outer layer consisting of enamel, and beneath it, the dentin. Going further beneath these layers is the pulp, which mainly consists of blood vessels and nerves. Because of the tooth’s unique anatomy, the pulp is, more often than not, unable to recover on its own following infection - thus necessitating removal. A completely mature or adult tooth is fortunately able to survive without its pulp due to its surrounding tissue that will provide it with the support and nutrition it requires.
For patients lucky enough to have the option of undergoing a RCT, it is more advantageous to “save” the tooth via endodontic treatment, compared to having it pulled and officially losing the tooth where there is no going back.
Your first RCT consultation will involve our Richmond Hill endodontist assessing the suspected tooth or teeth, taking digital radiographs as necessary. After a proper diagnosis has been made, your treatment plan will be created and discussed with you.
When it comes time for the actual procedure, Dr. Danesh will begin by administering a local anesthetic to numb the tooth from pain. Next, a rubber dam will be placed to isolate the tooth while ensuring a clean and saliva-free working environment.
After this, a conservative and minimal opening will be created in the tooth’s crown in order to gain access to the root canal system. Tiny and specialized instruments will be employed in order to clean the infected pulp from the roots with precision and accuracy, including the use of special chemical disinfectants.s
To finalize after the cleaning and shaping of the roots, Dr. Danesh will go on to fill the space created using an inert biocompatible material (generally referred to as “gutta percha”). In many cases, a post may also be included inside the root canal for added strength.
A unique cement used for sealing is then applied to hold the filling in place, and the minimal opening in the tooth is sealed off with a temporary filling. Generally speaking, this will later be capped within two weeks of the root canal treatment’s completion using a restorative dental crown.
Our experienced endodontist and team are here to help get to the “root” of your dental issue!
Reach out to our team today to schedule your visit.