A root canal treatment (RCT) is one of the most common dental procedures performed, well over 14 million every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges. A root canal treatment is performed to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or has become 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.
Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:
- Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
- Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone.
- Discolored tooth
Infected/Inflamed Pulp Tissue
Technically “root canal” is not the name of the procedure but refers instead simply to the natural cavity found in the center of the tooth. The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area inside the root canal. The tooth’s nerve lies within the root canal. Occasionally, the internal soft tissue (or pulp) of the tooth becomes infected and can result in a serious infection if left untreated. Treatment consists of cleaning, disinfecting and refilling the inside of the tooth with an inert material, thus preventing pain and limiting damage to the tooth. In most cases, a root canal can be accomplished in one visit, but in some cases, it may take two appointments to finish treating the tooth. This depends entirely on the severity of the condition.
Can every tooth have a root canal?
In most cases, all your teeth can be treated. There are some instances where a tooth is not savable. There may not be enough bone support or for some reason, the tooth is not healthy enough to be restored.