With modern technology & our endodontic specialists, your natural tooth can be saved from pain & discomfort.
Your tooth consists of crown & roots, the crown is above the gums & roots are below it. The crown of a tooth is a three layered structure, the outermost layer, known as Enamel-the hardest structure in the body. Middle layer, Dentin, protects the pulp from all sides, and the innermost layer, the Pulp that provides nourishment to the tooth. Pulp transmits pain if it’s damaged or infected. If the tooth decay is limited to the first two layers, it can be corrected with filling restoration. But when the decay reaches the third layer and causes inflammation of pulp, root canal treatment also known as endodontic treatment is needed. It is a straightforward procedure to relieve the dental pain by removing the infected pulp tissue and saving the natural tooth.
Initially a local anaesthesia is given to numb the infected tooth and the surrounding tissues. The hole is then drilled through the biting surface of an infected tooth, allowing access to the pulp chamber. The dead & infected pulp tissue is removed & the canals are cleaned with the help of endodontic file, specially designed to clean the root canals and pulp chamber. Once it is completely removed the tooth itself can no longer feel pain. The cleaned canals are now disinfected with antibacterial and antiseptic solutions. The canals are then shaped with tiny instruments to allow them to receive fillings and sealers. The canals are then again washed to remove any debris before sealing it. A rubber like material called gutta-percha is used to fill the canal space. It is important to prevent re-infection.
A permanent filling material will then be placed to seal the hole. In some case post (either metal or strong plastic) is inserted in one of the canals inside the tooth for extra support. You will be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. It is normal to have some minor discomfort after treatment. Now, the treated tooth will need a tooth cap (crown), to fix the lost tooth structure & to prevent it from fracture. The root canals are very small spaces hence require great deal of precision & care to treat them well.