Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic therapy, is a specialized dental procedure performed to save a severely damaged or infected tooth.
Steps:
- Diagnosis and Assessment: During the initial appointment, the dentist examines the affected tooth, reviews dental X-rays, and assesses the extent of the infection or damage to determine if root canal treatment is necessary.
- Local Anesthesia: To ensure a painless experience, the dentist administers local anesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding area.
- Pulp Removal: Once the tooth is numb, the dentist creates a small access opening in the tooth's crown to reach the infected pulp. Using specialized instruments, the dentist carefully removes the infected pulp from the root canals.
- Cleaning and Shaping: After removing the infected pulp, the root canals are thoroughly cleaned and shaped to create space for the filling material.
- Filling and Sealing: The cleaned root canals are filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and sealed with dental cement to prevent recontamination.
- Dental Restoration: Since root canal-treated teeth can become brittle over time, a dental crown or onlay is often placed over the tooth to protect it and restore its strength and functionality.
When a child's tooth becomes severely damaged or infected, root canal treatment may be recommended as an alternative to extraction, allowing the natural tooth to be saved and preserved.
