Teeth consist of a crown and one or more roots. The crown is the part that you see. The roots do not you see. They are under your gums, anchored in the jaw. Each of them runs a  root canal. This contains nerve fibers and small blood vessels. This living tissue is also called pulp. When the tissue is inflamed, or inflammation has occurred, the dentist performs a root canal treatment.

What causes inflamed dental pulp?

From tooth decay or a leaking filling, your pulp can become inflamed. A hard slap on your teeth can also be a reason. Bacteria are usually the cause of the inflammation. Are your teeth sensitive to drinking cold or hot drinks? That can be a first signal. Sometimes the inflammation starts without complaints, but also severe pain can occur. Your dentist must then remove inflamed gum tissue, otherwise it will die. When the tooth tissue is not removed, the inflammation will expand to your jawbone. This cuases bone loss around the teeth. Ultimately, much jawbone disappears and the teeth loose stand or even come loose. Your tooth may feel too high from this initially.

During a root canal treatment the dentist removes the inflamed or dead pulp. Inflamed or dead pulp does not heal anymore. It is an irreversible process. So get your dentist to inspect inflamed or dead tissue. A root canal treatment is also called cryotherapy or duct.

During a root canal treatment the dentist removes the inflamed or dead pulp.

Step 1

After the tooth is anesthetized, an opening is made through the crown into the pulp chamber.

Step 2

The length of the root canal is determined.

Step 3

Unhealthy pulp is removed. The canal is cleaned, enlarged and shaped.

Step 4

The canal is filled and sealed. A metal post may be added for structural support or to retain restorative materials.

Step 5

The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. Usually a gold or porcelain crown adds further protection.

The material used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime, but eventually the filling or crown may need to be replaced.

A root canal treatment with an anesthetic is usually not painful.

The length of a root canal treatment depends on the number of root canals. Teeth usually have one root. Molars have always more. The treatment time therefore varies from half to one and a half hours. Often the dental root canal treatment can be done in a single finish. But sometimes you have to come back a few times.

After clearing the root canal there can possibly be afterpains, which may persist for several days, but can be treated with painkillers and antibiotics.