The term “root canal” refers to the treatment used by the dentists at KRB Dentistry to save a severely decayed or infected tooth or root. The roots of adult teeth have a canal containing a nerve that perceives pressure. When the nerve is irritated beyond repair due to extensive tooth decay or trauma, it must be removed, and the canal within the root must be filled.

A root canal procedure is simply a filling of the root — the part of the tooth under the gums inside the bone that holds the tooth in place — and is similar to the filling performed when you get a clinical crown — the part of the tooth that is visible in the mouth — to remedy tooth decay.

Here are the most common dental issues that lead to the need for root canals:

Decay

Tooth decay is the decalcification and demineralization of the enamel and dentin parts of the tooth, which penetrate into the nerve pulp chamber of the tooth and the canal inside the root. Tooth decay causes inflammation and infection of the nerve, resulting in nerve pain.

Trauma

If a tooth sustains an injury causing a large chip, fracture, or crack that results in the nerve being exposed, the nerve inside the canal must be removed and filled, and the outside coronal structure must be stabilized and reinforced with a crown.

Infection

Severe tooth decay, trauma to your tooth, recent dental work, and large fillings can cause an infection in your tooth pulp. This first infection can cause a second infection inside and around the root that results in resorption of the bone and swelling of the gums. In this case, the infection must be drained, and the tooth must be treated with a root canal.

Root canal procedures at KRB Dentistry relieve your tooth pain and involve a multistep process. During your first visit with Dr. Kauser Bari or one of her associates, they review your medical and dental history and take X-rays to confirm and determine the extent of your infection. More often than not, the urgency of a root canal is addressed immediately, usually the same day.

When you come in for your root canal appointment, the procedure is usually completed in one or two steps.

The first step is the removal of the nerve after the tooth is wholly anesthetized or numbed with the administration of a local anesthetic. That prevents you from feeling any sensitivity or pain during the process. The dentist performing the procedure then places a sheet of thin plastic, called a rubber dam, around your tooth to keep it dry.

Once you’re numb, your dentist at KRB Dentistry drills out the center of the tooth to access the nerve chamber to remove the irritated nerve tissue. If the infection is excessive, the dentist may choose to pause at this time, temporize the tooth with a temporary filling to allow it to drain, place you on antibiotics, and have you return at a later date to complete the procedure.

To complete the root canal the same day, or at a later date in a second step process, the canal is filled with a rubber filling called gutta percha to seal the canal and prevent the passage of bacteria within or around the tooth. The access hole is filled with a fluoride releasing filling material or another material of the dentist’s and patient’s preference.

Afterward, either the same day or at a later date, the dentist may recommend a crown be placed on the tooth to reinforce the structure that’s compromised after the removal of the center of the tooth and the decayed areas.