Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is removing the infected tooth nerve, cleaning out and filling a damaged pulp. It effectively saves a tooth when the dental pulp or the soft inner core is damaged.

Root canal therapy materials

Root canal filling material (gutta purcha), gold post, and crown.

Detailed procedures

• Make an opening in you tooth.
• Remove the inflamed pulp, and clean the pulp chamber and root canals.
• Fill temporary filling to protect the tooth between two appointments.
• At the second visit, remove the temporary filling, put permanent filling in the pulp chamber and root canal(s), and seal the opening to prevent bacteria attacking. In many cases, A post is needed for support the tooth.
• Finally, a crown may be needed to restore the tooth shape and functions.

Left: Structure before root canal
Right: Structure after root canal
Click on it to see enlarged version.

Why does the pulp become damaged?

A broken tooth or a tooth with deep cavity may damage the dental pulp. The infection can cause an abscess at the root tips (periapcle area). Also, if the e tooth is jarred out of its natural alignment by an accident, the pulp may die.

What will happen if left the tooth untreated?

If the inflamed pulp is not treated, it will die, then the bone around the tooth may be destroyed. When the bone of the tooth is destroyed,, the tooth can not be saved and must to be removed.