1. Root Canal Therapy Have you ever been told by your dentist that you need a root canal treatment, and you are wondering what this procedure is, then you don’t need to worry because this article will explain everything you need to know about the root canal treatment. What is the Root Canal? Root canals refer to the hollow spaces that are present inside the roots of the teeth that are filled with the living and highly sensitive tissue of the teeth, known as the dental pulp. Similarly, the crown portion of the teeth also contains the pulp, and the cavity is known as the pulp chamber. What is Root Canal Therapy? Root canal therapy is performed whenever the dental pulp gets infected as a result of exposure to the external environment. Pulp exposure can occur due to several reasons, such as tooth cavities, tooth wear as well as accidental chipping of the teeth. In this procedure, the dentist removes the infected pulp from the pulp chamber and the root canals, followed by thoroughly cleaning them and finally filling them with an inert material to avoid future infections. How is the Root Canal Treatment Performed? The root canal procedure involves the following steps:  Pre-operative Radiographic Evaluation – before starting with the procedure, dentists have a detailed look at various x-rays of the infected tooth to evaluate the extent of spread of infection as well to anticipate any complication that can happen during the procedure, as a result of the complex structure of the root canals.  Access Cavity Preparation – Next, the dentist drills through the tooth crown, until the exposure of the pulp chamber is achieved. Widening of the access cavity is then performed, so as to allow easy insertion and removal of the endodontic instruments, in addition to obtaining a clear view of the root canals.  Pulp Removal and Shaping of Root Canals – removal of the pulp is performed by using specialized instruments known as the endodontic files. In addition to pulp removal, they are also used to shape the root canals, which is performed by using sequentially larger number of files, in such a way the crown

2. end of the root canals is flared, while the apex remains constricted in order to maintain a good seal. During this process, the root canals are frequently flushed with saline or any antibacterial agent, so as to ensure that the infection is completely removed.  Obturation – once the root canals have been cleaned and appropriately shaped, they are filled with an inert biomaterial, in a process known as obturation. The most commonly used material is Gutta Percha, which can either be used in the solid or the molten form. Obturation is performed in such a way that root canals are completely filled with gutta percha, and there is no space available for the bacteria to grow.  Restoration of The Tooth – after root canal treatment has been performed, the tooth is restored with a temporary filling material while healing is in progress, and is replaced with a permanent filling once complete healing has been achieved.  Placement of a Crown – teeth tend to become brittle after they undergo a root canal treatment. Therefore they are strengthened by placing a dental crown over them. Will it hurt during the Procedure? The infected tooth is anesthetized before the procedure is initiated. However, sometimes the local anesthesia fails to become effective due to presence of the pus, in which case, the treatment may be postponed until the infection is reduced with the help of antibiotics. Once the tooth is anesthetized, patients feel no pain during the procedure. How Many Sittings Does Root Canal Require? The number of sittings required depends upon the severity of the infection as well as the number of roots the tooth has. While mild to moderate infections may require lesser sittings, in severe infections, dentists tend to go slow in order to provide ample time for healing. Similarly, root canals treatment in single rooted teeth can even be performed in a singles sitting, however, in multiple teeth, 2-3 sittings may be required. Thinking of getting a root canal treatment, let us help you with that. Visit us today ht p:/ www.nicholasgihdds.com/, http://www.nicholasgihdds.com/, and let us take care of your teeth problems!