Endodontic treatment, also known as a root canal treatment, is essentially taking out the nerve and blood vessels from the canals in a tooth root / roots. Root canal treatments are needed when decay or a crack extends all the way to the chamber within each tooth that houses the nerves, blood supply and connective tissue. If left untreated the infection can spread to the surrounding bone and form an abcess. This can actually be lethal if spread to the brain via the cavernous sinus in cases involving upper teeth, or the throat causing difficulty breathing in case involving lower teeth. It is advisable to take care of these kind of problems without delay.
The main symptoms to look out for in determining if you need a root canal is hot or cold sensitivity, throbbing pain, swelling and discoloration of the tooth. sometimes, there are no symptoms but abscess is visible on the radio-graph.
We do not do this procedure in our office but refer out to a Specialist – an Endodontist. The contents of the pulp chamber and root canals are removed and disinfected, and filled with gutta percha. The tooth is then filled and restored with a protective crown for proper function and aesthetics. Antibiotics may or may not be indicated. A close follow up is recommended.
Teeth with existing Root Canal Treatments have to be monitored very closely, they can reinfect. Each case is assessed for its merits for each tooth, and for each given patient.
