The soft tissue inside the root canal can become inflamed or infected due to decay or crack or chip in the tooth. If it is left untreated, it can lead to pain and abscess.
Root canal treatment is also known as endodontic treatment. It involves the removal of infected pulp or tooth which is followed by cleaning, disinfecting and obturation to seal the decontaminated canals.
A root canal might be needed in the following cases:
– Sensitivity to heat or cold
– Prolonged tooth pain
– Swollen gums
– Swollen jaw
– Tooth discolouration
– Loose tooth
At Envisage, we begin by taking dental X-rays of the affected tooth to analyse the damage to the tooth followed by the below-mentioned steps:
Local anaesthesia is placed to numb the affected area and the surrounding gums. You will be awake throughout the procedure, but the anaesthetic will help in preventing any pain.
After the tooth is numb, a small opening is made in the crown of the tooth. Once the infected pulp is visible, it will be removed using small dental instruments.
After the pulp is removed, the pulp chamber and root canal are cleaned, and antibiotics are topically coated to ensure the canal is disinfected and infection is prevented in future.
After the above-mentioned steps, our dentist will fill and seal the tooth with a biocompatible and rubber-like material called gutta-percha.
A temporary dental filling is placed to seal the tooth to prevent the canals from being damaged by bacteria or saliva.
In most cases, a dental crown will be placed to protect the treated tooth.
You will be able to resume your normal routine a day after the procedure. You will have a follow-up with your dentist to check the status of the infection and replace any temporary fillings.
Make sure to keep the area clean after the root canal treatment. Avoid chewing on the treated tooth if you have not received a permanent crown yet.
The tooth becomes brittle and is prone to fracture. To ensure it is stable and protected in the long term, we recommend a durable, high-quality post-endodontic restoration followed by either a full coverage crown or a partial crown (inlay, onlay, crownlay). In some cases, especially non-discoloured anterior teeth, it may function without a crown.
