Root canal treatments are performed to save a tooth that has been badly damaged due to decay, disease or injury. Your own tooth is usually stronger and more efficient for biting and chewing than a false replacement. Cleaning and maintenance of a natural tooth are also much easier. However good an artificial tooth is, it will never be more than a substitute for a real one.
Root canal treatment is usually performed under a thin sheet of latex, called a rubber dam, which is used to isolate the tooth and keep it dry during treatment. Treatment times can vary from single appointments to several visits to complete. The canal inside the root is cleaned, enlarged and shaped with specially designed files. Medicines are placed inside the canals to stop infection and inflammation.
To protect the inside of the tooth and prevent further infection, the root canals are filled and the pulp chamber sealed. After receiving a root canal filling, most teeth treated in this way should be protected with a crown which also prevents bacteria from re-entering the tooth.
Crowns can be used to:
Key benefits of root canal work are:
Root canal treatment has a success rate of approximately 90% and while root canal treatment can save most teeth, we cannot guarantee success in every case. Your tooth will not be treated unless the treatment is likely to succeed
The benefits of crowns are:
Whenever enamel is removed, there is a small risk that the underlying pulp may die and become infected. If this occurs, the tooth may need root canal treatment.