Root Canal Treatment – smileDentity Glossary
What is root canal treatment?
When bacteria penetrate deep into a tooth and inflame the dental pulp, a decision has to be made: preserve the tooth or remove it. Root canal treatment is a proven way of saving your own tooth.
The key facts at a glance
- Speciality: endodontics – treatment of the inside of the tooth
- Goal: remove inflamed or dead pulp, clean the root canals and seal them as tightly as possible
- Purpose: to preserve the natural tooth instead of removing it
- Prerequisite: the tooth must be capable of being preserved and worth preserving
Root canal treatment belongs to the dental speciality of endodontology, also known as endodontics for short. It is an option when the inside of a tooth is diseased. At the centre of every tooth is the pulp, colloquially also called the dental nerve. It consists of nerve fibres, blood vessels and connective tissue. After successful root canal treatment, the tooth can remain in the jaw and continue to perform its chewing function.
If tooth decay, a crack or an injury breaks through the protective layers of the tooth, bacteria can reach the pulp and trigger an inflammation there, the so-called pulpitis. If this remains untreated, the pulp can die. The inflammation can spread via the root tip into the jawbone and lead to the formation of an abscess.
Root canal treatment is intended to stop this process by removing the diseased tissue as completely as possible, carefully cleaning and disinfecting the root canal system and then filling it as tightly as possible.
When is root canal treatment an option?
The procedure is considered when deep tooth decay or trauma has damaged the pulp and a simple filling is no longer sufficient. A tooth treated in good time can in many cases be preserved in the long term. Without treatment, the inflammation can spread further and significantly worsen the prognosis for preserving the tooth.
A dead tooth can also cause inflammation in the area of the root tip without any pain. This can be detected by a dental examination and – if medically necessary – by an X-ray. Regular check-ups help to detect such unnoticed inflammation at an early stage.
Sometimes a dead tooth no longer causes any pain at all because the nerve has already been destroyed. This does not mean that the inflammatory process has stopped. Bacteria can spread in the root area and form a chronic focus in the jawbone that only becomes visible on an X-ray. Regular check-ups with an X-ray and professional preventive care help to detect such silent inflammation early.
Are you in pain, or would you like to know whether your tooth is still worth preserving?
Request an appointment nowRoot canal treatment procedure: explained step by step
The aim of the treatment is to remove diseased tissue, reduce the bacterial load in the root canal system as far as possible and then carefully fill the cleaned canals. The exact number of sessions depends on the extent of the inflammation and the anatomy of the tooth. An incisor often has one canal, while a molar can have four or more canals.
The five steps of root canal treatment
This is how the procedure works at the practice – from anaesthesia to the final restoration.
Anaesthesia
The affected area is numbed locally with a local anaesthetic.
Local anaesthesia
Rubber dam and access
A rubber dam isolates the tooth from the oral cavity so that no bacteria from saliva can enter the freshly cleaned canal. A controlled access to the pulp is then created.
Hygiene protection
Preparation and cleaning
The inflamed or dead pulp tissue is removed as completely as possible. The root canals are then prepared with fine instruments, thoroughly rinsed and disinfected.
Endodontics
Root canal filling
The prepared canals are filled as completely and tightly as possible with a proven root filling material, usually gutta-percha combined with a sealer. This is intended to make it more difficult for bacteria to re-enter.
Root filling
Final restoration
After root canal treatment, the tooth is permanently sealed. Depending on the remaining tooth structure, the position of the tooth and the bite load, it is restored with a filling, partial crown, onlay or crown.
Tooth preservation
Pain during treatment: what can you really expect?
The key facts at a glance
- Treatment is carried out under local anaesthesia and is well tolerated by most patients
- After treatment, the tooth may be sensitive to pressure or biting for a few days
- Swelling or severe pain after treatment should be reported to the practice
- For patients who are afraid of injections, STA® single-tooth anaesthesia is available
The idea of root canal treatment makes many patients feel uneasy. In fact, under modern local anaesthesia the treatment is well tolerated by most patients. We explain the individual steps to you and, if necessary, adapt the anaesthesia to your individual situation.
Have your symptoms checked early on
The earlier the cause of toothache or signs of inflammation is identified, the better the options for preserving the tooth can be assessed.
Frequently asked questions about root canal treatment (FAQ)
The procedure itself is carried out under local anaesthesia and is well tolerated by most patients. After treatment, the tooth may be sensitive to pressure or biting for a few days. If pain, swelling or fever increases, you should contact the practice.
Uncomplicated treatment of a front tooth can often be completed in one session. Molars with several canals or advanced inflammation may require several appointments. The exact duration of treatment depends on the anatomy of the tooth and the extent of the inflammation.
Statutory health insurance covers root canal treatment if the tooth is classified as capable of being preserved and worth preserving according to the applicable guidelines. For rear molars, additional requirements apply that depend on the individual dental situation. Measures that go beyond the scope of statutory health insurance may be charged privately. We will inform you about any possible out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins.
After the root canals have been sealed, the tooth is given a permanent restoration. Depending on the remaining tooth structure and the load, a filling, partial crown, onlay or crown may be required. Regular check-ups serve to monitor the healing process and the stability of the tooth.
In rare cases, a preparation instrument can break in the canal or the canal wall can be unintentionally perforated. Re-infection is possible if bacteria remain in the canal system or re-enter it. In this case, a revision of the root canal treatment may become necessary.
Not every treatment is permanently successful. With severely curved, very fine or branched canals, complete cleaning and disinfection can be more difficult.
If the pulp is still sufficiently vital and capable of being preserved, measures to maintain vitality may be an option depending on the findings. If the pulp is irreversibly damaged or has already died, root canal treatment is in many cases the most important way of preserving the natural tooth.
If the tooth can no longer be preserved, the alternative is extraction and, if necessary, replacement with a bridge or an implant.
Would you like to discuss calmly in advance what root canal treatment will involve for you?
Book a consultation