Endodontic Treatment: Root Canal 101

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

People fear, dread, and postpone getting them. They are fodder for countless jokes. What are they? 

Root canals.

But like a lot of things in life, the anticipation of a root canal is far worse than the actual process of getting one. And consider this: years ago, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you would likely lose that tooth entirely. Now, not only can teeth be saved through endodontics, or root canal therapy, but medical advances have made this treatment relatively simple, with little or no discomfort. Most root canals involve one to three visits to your general dentist or endodontist.

A root canal treats the dental pulp, or the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue in healthy teeth. Dental pulp lies within the tooth and extends from the crown to the tip of the root, in the bone of the jaw. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. If vulnerable dental pulp is left without treatment, pus builds up at the root tip in the jawbone in the 'root canal', forming a pocket called an abscess. An abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth; and not only that, an abscess usually hurts.

A molar, showing the 'root canals'

As for the actual procedure of an endodontic root canal treatment, the dentist removes the diseased or dead pulp from a tooth, the 'root canal' itself is cleaned, and then the tooth is sealed off to protect it. Finally, your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger, and the procedure is complete.

Here's the step-by-step process of how a tooth is saved through root canal treatment:

• An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
• The pulp is removed, and the 'root canals' are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
• Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and 'root canals' to help get rid of germs and prevent infection.
• A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between dental visits. Your dentist may leave the tooth open for a few days to drain. You might also be given medicine to control any infection that may have spread beyond the tooth.
• The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber and 'root canals' are cleaned, filled and sealed.
• A gold or porcelain crown is placed over the tooth as the final step.    

Your restored tooth will likely last a lifetime, with continued preventive care and good oral hygiene.  

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com