Root Canal Treatment at Richardsons Dental And Craniofacial Hospital

A tooth consists of hard enamel, dentin, and cementum with soft pulp tissue in the center. The pulp is a living tissue that consists of blood vessels, nerve fibers, lymphatics, and connective tissue. It nourishes the tooth and extends from the crown as a pulp chamber to the root as a root canal. The number of canals varies from tooth to tooth, depending on the number of roots in a tooth.

Decay or dental caries are blackish discolorations often observed on the tooth surface. Cariogenic bacteria present in the oral cavity acts on the tooth surface resulting in caries or cavities. In the initial stages, these organisms are active in the enamel and represented by a blackish discoloration. You may observe mild to moderate sensitivity once decay spreads to the dentin thanks to its numerous nerve endings.

As the decay approaches the pulp, you may experience pain that varies in intensity. Subsequently, if untreated, the infection spreads through the canals, to the root, and into the underlying bone representing a swelling or pus discharge through sinus opening.

Root Canal Treatment or RCT involves removing pulp tissue from the tooth. It is given as a treatment option to avoid extracting the painful carious tooth and is often the last resort for patients suffering from severe sensitivity. Dentists also intentionally perform root canal treatments before certain dental treatments like fixed partial dentures for teeth replacement. We also do root canal when treating a fractured tooth with pulp exposure.

Root canal treatment involves complete removal of the pulp tissue, thereby devitalizing the tooth. This process only eliminates the proprioception of the tooth; its function in chewing and speech remain unaffected, thanks to RCT.

Root canal treatments are usually done under local anesthesia to reduce pain and anxiety in patients. The dentist accesses the root canal through the openings made on the occlusal surface of the tooth. He  vigorously cleans and irrigates the canals to make them free from infections and irritants. He then treats the canals with intracanal medications.

We will close the canals permanently with gutta-percha and seal the affected area with permanent filling material – usually with a miracle mix in posteriors and glass ionomer cement in anterior. During this treatment process, patients are under mandatory antibiotics.

On most occasions, it takes a single sitting to complete a root canal treatment, but sometimes it may require multiple visits. At Richardsons Dental and Craniofacial Hospital, Nagercoil, we have a specialised team of endodontists, i.e., dentists who specialise in root canal treatment.

Following root canal treatment, we recommend getting a cap or jacket crown over the treated teeth to restore its shape, strength, and function. Root canal treatment dehydrates the tooth; over time, they become brittle. We, therefore, always advise patients to place a dental crown to keep it strong and secure.

Dr. Sunil Richardson supervises all root canal treatments at the Richardsons Dental and Craniofacial Hospital. We can ensure that your treatment is painless and done in a single sitting.