Root Canals
What's a Root Canal?
A root canal is a treatment for infections within your tooth pulp (innermost layer of your teeth).
Why would you need a root canal?
You might need a root canal if bacteria has invaded the pulp inside your tooth and caused inflammation or infection. Your tooth pulp can become infected for a number of reasons. Some common reasons are:
- You have a deep cavity that extends near or into the pulp
- You have a cracked or damaged tooth which allows bacteria access into the pulp
Signs you might need a root canal
If you have an infected tooth, you might need root canal treatment to clear out the infection. Symptoms of an infection can include:
- Tooth pain that doesn’t go away. Pain from your teeth that spreads to your jaw, face or other teeth might also mean you have an infection.
- Putting pressure on your tooth hurts — If it hurts when you eat or touch your tooth.
- Swollen gums — If you have an infected tooth, your gums might feel tender or be swollen.
- Discoloured tooth — A tooth that appears darker or grey, may signify a problem with the pulp
- Loose tooth — An infection from inside the tooth can start to destroy the bone around the tooth, which makes your tooth feel like it’s loose.
what does a root canal treatment involve?
Before starting treatment, your dentist will take dental X-rays of the affected tooth. Tests might also be run to determine if your tooth pulp is dead, infected or inflamed.
During a root canal treatment, your dentist will remove the inflamed or infected pulp and then clean and disinfect the inside of your tooth before placing a filling on your tooth to seal it in place.
Root canal treatment steps:
- On the day of your appointment, anesthesia is used to put you at ease and numb your infected tooth and nearby gums.
- Next, your dentist will use special instruments to carefully remove infected pulp, then clean and disinfect the area gently.
- From there, your tooth will be sealed with a dental filling to keep bacteria out.
- Afterwards, it may be recommended to have a crown placed on top of this tooth to protect your tooth and restore your bite.
- Root canal recovery should only take two or three days. During this time, eat mainly soft foods and gently brush your teeth as you normally would.
- For pain relief, take over-the-counter pain relievers and if pain hasn’t subsided after a few days, give your dentist a call.
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Dr. Jaimee Buchkowsky, DDS
This content was written by Dr. Jaimee Buchkowsky, who brings over 15 years of experience to her practice. Dr. Buchkowsky holds both a Bachelor of Medical Science and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Alberta.