Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment: these three words make many people shudder. Yet it's an important and beneficial procedure that helps save a tooth that's been deeply attacked by bacteria. Performed with dexterity and precision at Le Dentiste clinics, this last-resort treatment can stop a pulp infection while preserving the tooth and surrounding structures.
Root Canal Treatment: Why Do It?
Root canal treatment aims to clean the pulp chamber, root canal and its ramifications of infected tissue.
It is performed when the pulp - the living part that fills the center of the tooth - is diseased. This includes blood vessels and nerves. Although the pulp is located deep within the tooth, bacteria can sometimes reach it. The resulting infection, called pulpitis, is usually the result of worsening decay. It may also be due to trauma that has caused cracks or damage to internal tooth structures. In all cases, the tooth must be devitalized, i.e. the attacked components removed, to stop the infection and avoid many of its consequences.
A Well-Defined Procedure
Root canal treatment is always carried out in the same way, following well-established steps. After placing a dam around the tooth to prevent the ingress of saliva and bacteria, the dentist drills into the tooth to gain access to the tooth center. Using precision instruments, the infected pulp is removed, and the canal is thoroughly cleaned. This ensures that no deposits or adhesions remain that could reignite the infection. Finally, the canal is plugged with medical rubber and the tooth is closed. To achieve this, a filling, inlay or crown is used, depending on the degree of damage and the fragility of the tooth.
Consequences Avoided by the Treatment
- Persistent sharp pain: This is the first symptom of pulpitis. By reaching the center of the tooth, bacteria can directly attack the central nerve, causing severe pain that is often difficult to endure;
- Spread of infection: If left unchecked, bacteria can continue to spread and affect surrounding tissues. An abscess or periodontitis could develop;
- Tooth embrittlement: The infection could destabilize the tooth;
- Tooth loss: The tooth may fall out if it becomes too destabilized. It may also have to be removed if the infection is too severe and starts to spread. This will affect chewing ability and the appearance of the teeth.
Root Canal Treatment: No Need to Fear
Root canal treatment has a bad reputation: it's said to be painful and laborious. Yet this procedure, performed under local anaesthetic, causes no more pain than a filling. The pain is actually caused by infection of the pulp. In other words, the procedure eradicates pain rather than causing it. It's also considered complicated, even though it's a fairly common treatment that often requires only one visit, although a second may be necessary to complete it.
If a Root Canal Treatment is Required
Your dentist in LaSalle, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Châteauguay and Town of Mount Royal will reassure you and carry out the treatment with the necessary attention to detail!
Request an Appointment
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