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If the nerve in a tooth is dead or inflamed, a root canal treatment is often performed. How does this procedure work, and does it hurt? Most importantly – what can you do to prevent needing it?
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What is root canal?
How can you avoid needing a root canal?
Root canal: step by step
Inside the tooth, there's a cavity containing nerves and blood vessels, known as the pulp. During a root canal treatment, the pulp is removed and replaced with another material. This procedure usually requires at least two dental visits.
If the pulp becomes damaged and infected by bacteria, a root canal may be the best option. One of the most common causes of such damage is deep cavities. Root canal treatment is also needed when the nerve and pulp tissue are exposed, damaged, or die due to deep fillings, crown treatment, or previous trauma to the tooth, severe teeth grinding, acid damage, or cracks. These conditions can cause tooth pain and lead to an infection that spreads to the bone around the tooth's roots. This infection can sometimes be symptom-free and only discovered through an X-ray at the dentist.
Symptoms can include swelling, discoloration, tenderness when chewing or touching, temperature sensitivity (cold/heat), or the tooth feeling too high when chewing. The tooth and pulp cannot heal without treatment, and the tooth must undergo a root canal to stay intact in the mouth.
An alternative to root canal treatment would be to remove the tooth. The missing tooth could then be replaced with a bridge or an implant with a crown, which is often more costly than saving the tooth through a root canal.
The most important thing you can do to avoid tooth inflammation, which may lead to needing a root canal, is maintaining good oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth well twice a day, using dental floss, and rinsing with fluoride at least once a day. Regular removal of tartar and thorough professional cleaning of your teeth also help. At our clinic, cleaning is naturally included in your routine check-up. During these visits, we can also detect symptom-free infections through X-rays.
A root canal is essentially a procedure where the pulp of the tooth is removed, and the root canal is cleaned both mechanically and chemically with substances that kill bacteria and remove the infection. Root canal treatment typically takes 1 to 3 appointments, depending on the reason for the root canal (the diagnosis) and the severity of the inflammation. During the first appointment, the inflamed tissue in the tooth and root is removed, and an antibacterial agent is placed temporarily for 1 to 4 weeks. Once the tooth is pain-free, the dentist will create a permanent root canal filling that seals the space where the pulp used to be. The tooth is then rebuilt, often with a tooth-colored filling, though a crown is frequently necessary. Your dentist will advise you on the best option for your tooth. Since teeth can become more fragile and less able to handle chewing pressure after a root canal, it’s important that the tooth is reconstructed with this in mind.
With anesthesia, the treatment is usually not painful. At Blid, we focus on making the procedure as pain-free as possible, and there is no additional charge for anesthesia. If a patient experiences significant pain, we pause the procedure and administer additional anesthesia. Some pain and tenderness can occur after the treatment, but this usually subsides quickly and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you experience intense or prolonged pain, we encourage you to contact us so we can assist you further.