Root canal treatment is  done to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected or when an injury or a large cavity damages the tooth’s root. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscess may form.

Material used to fill the root canal: Root canal filling material (gutta percha) is placed in the canals and the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling to protect it from contamination. Afterwards  a crown is usually placed over the tooth to seal and protect it from recontamination and future damage.

Steps involved:

Step1: An opening is made in the infected tooth.

Step 2: Infected tissues are removed and the canals are cleaned.

Step 3: Canal filled with a permanent material (gutta percha).

Step 4: Openings are sealed and sometimes an additional post is inserted for extra support (if needed)

Step 5: New crown cemented to rebuilt the tooth in order to restore the functional ability of the tooth

Indications of  Root Canal Treatment are:

• Severe sensitivity to hot and cold food and sweets
• Spontaneous throbbing pain while biting
• Pain that worsens when you lie down
• Tooth pain that radiates to the head and ears
• Swelling around the tooth
• Severe decay or an injury or fractured teeth that might create an abscess (infection) in the root region

Endodontic practice

• Rotary Endodontics
• Cleaning and shaping canals using Endosonic techniques
• The use of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) as a retrograde filling material
• The use of thermo-plasticized gutta-percha for filling root canals