Root Canal Treatment

Your tooth’s crown is composed of a thick layer of dentine overlaid by the harder enamel exterior layer. These two act as protectors to the softer and vulnerable core of your tooth called the pulp that is, in essence, a mixture of blood vessels and nerves that run from the tip of the tooth roots up to the outer crown. Typical pulp damage that results in the need for root canal treatment include symptoms like:

• Gum swelling near the affected tooth pulps
• Facial swelling
• Oozing from the affected pulps
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold ingestions
• Pain when chewing or biting

However, there may not even be any warning signs, but even without the occurrence of these symptoms, your dentist will usually be able to point out if there’s a problem emerging.

Root canal treatment can save your tooth by removing the damaged, infected tissue from the inside layers of the tooth and prevent it from future infections. Without an RCT the infection will most likely spread out, and the tooth will need extraction.

Root Canal Treatment (RCT)
Root canal therapy typically requires one to three appointments. During the course of treatment, your dentist removes the infected tissue, disinfects the inside of the tooth, and seals it with a durable dental material to restore function and prevent further issues.

Step-by-Step: Root Canal Procedure

1. Examination & Diagnosis
   Your dentist begins with a thorough clinical examination, including X-rays, to assess the extent of infection or damage. This helps visualise the pulp chamber and root canals for accurate treatment planning. 
2. Local Anaesthesia
   A local anaesthetic is used to numb the affected area, ensuring the procedure is as comfortable as possible for you. 
3. Access & Initial Cleaning
   An opening is made in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp chamber. The infected or inflamed pulp is removed using fine dental instruments. The canals are then cleaned and shaped to prepare them for disinfection and filling. 
4. Disinfection & Medication (Middle Appointment)
   In some cases, the dentist will place an antibacterial medication—commonly calcium hydroxide—inside the cleaned canals. This powerful disinfectant helps eliminate any remaining bacteria and reduces inflammation. The tooth is then sealed with a temporary filling while the medication is allowed to work over several days or weeks. 
5. Filling & Sealing
   Once the tooth is fully disinfected and symptom-free, the root canals are filled with a biocompatible material (such as gutta-percha). The canals are then sealed with a strong dental cement to prevent reinfection. 
6. Final Restoration
   A crown or other restoration is typically placed to protect the treated tooth, restore its strength, and ensure long-term function.

Today, with local anaesthesia and available modern dental techniques, the majority of patients feel little to no pain during a RCT.

Most people say that a root canal treatment hurts no more than a regular filling and are able to resume their day-to-day activities right away. Given that a person in need of an RCT is often already experiencing extreme pain, the treatment can even come across as relief from it with very minimal recovery time.

After the anaesthetic wears off, you may feel some soreness when chewing in the intervened area, especially if that tooth was abscessed before the RCT. Though the problematic nerves are no longer inside the tooth, the outer nerves that are found around the tooth will probably be still inflamed from the treatment of the previous abscess.

The recommended approach is to chew on the other side of the mouth, away from the area of the tooth in question, for a couple of days after the procedure so that the tissue, nerves and bone around it can rest and reduce inflammation. In case of serious pain and discomfort, your dentist will advise you regarding taking over-the-counter pain medication, if needed.

With time, The procedure may result in a slight darker tooth. The treatment is not at fault here, but the disease that led to it. Blood and infections on the tissue can sometimes stain the tooth’s crown. It can happen immediately when the infection occurs or later even after the RCT.

This and other problems like when there’s substantial tooth decay can be resolved by placing a crown on it, thus helping restore the shape, strength, and tone of the problematic tooth.

Good oral health habits, with regular brushing, flossing and the necessary check-ups will go a long way to keep your restored tooth in the best possible conditions.