ENDODONTICS

This term often makes people shudder. Contrary to what is often heard, a root canal treatment is a treatment done under local anesthesia, therefore without pain.

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Root canal treatment, also called endodontic treatment, involves removing infected, damaged or dead pulp from the tooth. The space inside the hard layers of the tooth is called the canal. The latter is filled with a soft tissue called dental pulp. This tissue contains the nerves and blood vessels that allow the tooth to grow. Bacteria that enter your tooth through deep cavities, cracks, or damaged fillings can cause an abscess to form. It is the infection of the dental pulp which is at the origin of this abscess. In this case, the pulp must be removed. The abscess can cause pain or inflammation. Your dentist can detect the infection from a dental X-ray or by observing other changes in the mouth. If left untreated, the abscess can lead to serious oral health problems.

A root canal treatment is the treatment that relieves a toothache (abscess). Once the bacteria have penetrated the pulp, the tooth must be devitalized and disinfected. After a root canal treatment, the tooth is more fragile. A crown and post may be required to restore the tooth. The purpose of the dental root canal treatment is to remove pain and stop infection, that of the crown and post are to restore the masticatory function of the tooth.

Root canal treatments have a very high success rate: over 95%.