Question: What is a Root Canal?

Answer: A Root Canal is a dental procedure to fix a tooth by removing the pulp chamber of the tooth and filling it with a suitable filling material. A root canal is usually performed when the tooth cannot be filled or restored any other way because the decay has reached the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has become infected.


A root canal is a dental procedure to fix a tooth that cannot be filled or restored any other way. If the tooth is severely decayed into the pulp of the tooth and / or infected, root canal treatment is usually the only option to save the tooth. Your regular dentist might do the root canal, but he / she may send you to an endodontist.

What to Expect
After the dentist numbs your tooth, he / she may use a rubber dam to keep the tooth area dry and free of saliva. A rubber dam is simply a piece of rubber that fits over the tooth and isolates it from the rest of the mouth. The dentist will then prepare the tooth by drilling an opening. After the dentist removes all of the decay and bacteria, he / she will use root canal files to clean out the canals (roots) of the tooth.
Root canal files are small instruments that increase in diameter and fit down into the canals enabling the dentist to remove the pulp of the tooth.
Some dentists like to wait a week or two before they finish a root canal, to make sure that there is no discomfort or further infection. If this is the case, the dentist will thoroughly clean the tooth and usually put some soothing medicine inside and seal it closed with a temporary filling material.
At the final stage of a root canal treatment, the dentist will usually fill the canals with a rubber filling material called gutta percha. After the canals are filled, a regular filling will be placed in the tooth.

Facts to Consider
After a tooth has had a root canal, it can become dry and brittle and easy to break. A crown is usually recommended to restore the tooth properly. The cost of a root canal on a molar (back tooth) averages around $800.00 and more if a root canal specialist performs the procedure. A crown averages around $900.00. Although the cost of a root canal is extensive, the only other alternative to a root canal is the removal of the tooth. If the tooth is removed, a bridge, implant or partial is recommended to fill in the gap because the other teeth can become crooked by shifting around.
Most root canals are successful (about 95%), but there is always the chance of a new infection, which could require another root canal or removal of the tooth.

Summary A root canal doesn’t have to be scary if you know what to expect. Express any concerns or questions you might have with your dentist and be sure to keep up with regular check up appointments, because a root canal is an investment that should be protected.

According to a recent report from the American Dental Association, males that smoke cigarettes are almost twice as likely to need root canals based on news reports about an extensive study listed to appear in the Journal of Dental Research in April 2006.

The lead author of this study, Boston University’s Dr.Elizabeth Krall Kaye, presented the findings in New York City at a special media briefing hosted by the American Dental Association as well as the American Medical Association.

The Study
This long term study began in 1968, where researchers collected data from aging men in the Veterans Affairs. The participants were all males, whose progression of oral health was tracked for nearly three decades. The study states that these male participants were evaluated every three years for gum disease, tooth mobility, cavities, restorations and calculus.
Other risk factors for root canal treatment such as cavities, presence of crowns, age, signs of periapical infection and bone loss were also taken into account and adjusted for by the researchers.

Risk Factors
Even though the study did find that the incidence of needing root canal treatment was higher in smokers than non smokers, the length of time that a participant spent smoking was also a clear factor. The risk factors of needing root canal treatment decreased with the extent of time that the participants had refrained from smoking. While no female smokers were involved in this research, the study did suggest that, “similar conclusions could likely be reached for female smokers.”

Conclusion Cigarette smoking has long ago been established as a key risk factor, of both men and women, for oral cancer, lung cancer, heart disease and other medical and dental problems. The findings of this extensive study not only shows data indicating the link between male cigarette smokers and the risk factors of needing root canal treatment, but also reinforces the importance of prevention and overcoming tobacco addiction.





Illustrations: Root Canal Treatment From Start to Finish


1. A Deep Infection

Root canal treatment is needed when the tooth's root becomes infected or inflamed through injury or advanced decay.

2. A Route to the Root

The tooth is anesthetized. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth to the pulp chamber.

3. Removing the Infected/Inflamed Tissue

Special files are used to clean the infection and unhealthy pulp out of the canals. Irrigation is used to help clean the main canal (called lateral canals).

4. Filling the Canals

The canals are filled with a permanent material, often gutta-percha. This helps to keep the canals free of infection or contamination.

5. Rebuilding the Tooth

A temporary filling material is placed on top of the gutta-percha to seal the opening until the tooth is ready to be prepared for a crown. A crown, sometimes called a cap, is made to look like a natural tooth, and is placed on top.

6. Extra Support

In some cases, a post is placed to give the crown extra support.

7. The Crowning Touch

The crown is cemented into place.
Root Canal Treatment If your tooth's nerve chamber becomes infected by decay,
root canal treatment is often the only way to save your tooth. Inside your tooth's hard outer shell is a nourishing pulp of blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. The root canals, which contain the pulp, extend to the bone. Deep tooth decay, or an injury, can cause serious damage and infection to the pulp's nerves and vessels. Root canal, or endodontic, treatment cleans out the infected pulp chamber ad repairs the damage.

Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:

• Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
• Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone.

The Procedure Step 1Step 2 Step 3After the tooth is anesthetized, an opening
is made through the crown into the pulp chamber. The length of the root canals is determinedUnhealthy pulp is removed. Canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped. Step 4 Step 5Canals are filled and sealed. A metal
post may be added for structural support
or to retain restorative materials.The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. Usually a gold or porcelain crown adds further protection. The material used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime, but eventually the filling or crown may need to be replaced. Be sure to follow the special home care instructions provided by your dental professional.


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