Root canal treatment
A gentle root canal treatment by our dentists
Root canal treatment is a fairly common procedure with many benefits. It is used to treat a tooth whose living centre, the pulp, is infected, making its presence in the mouth a problem. Thanks to this treatment, the tooth can stay in place without risk of complications, for itself or its neighbours.
With their experience and skills, the dentists at Clinique dentaire Saint-Étienne in Lévis perform this procedure successfully!
Root canal treatment: when is it needed?
Root canal (endodontic) treatment is done to save a tooth whose pulp, the centre containing the blood vessels and nerves, is attacked by bacteria. This usually happens when a cavity has deepened, but it can also follow dental trauma that disrupted the inner structures of a tooth. The treatment thoroughly cleans the inside of the tooth (pulp chamber and root canals) to stop the infection and prevent complications.
Consequences this treatment prevents
- Pain that is hard to bear;
- A deepening infection leading to an abscess;
- The spread of infection to neighbouring teeth and tissues;
- Weakening, or even loss, of the tooth.
Root canal treatment, step by step
- The dental dam: it is placed around the tooth to protect the site from saliva and bacteria;
- Removing the pulp: the dentist first opens the tooth to reach the pulp, then removes it with high-precision instruments;
- Cleaning: all deposits are removed from the root canals to clean them thoroughly. They are then filled with gutta-percha, a medical rubber;
- Closing the tooth: a filling, an inlay or a crown is then placed to close the space and strengthen the tooth if needed.
Root canal treatment: three myths to dispel
It is a painful treatment
This is a stubborn belief about root canal treatment. Yet, since it is done under local anesthesia, it usually causes no more discomfort than a filling. The pain associated with it actually comes from the deep infection that the treatment is meant to stop.
It is a complicated, difficult procedure
A root canal treatment requires several delicate steps, but our dentists have the dexterity to carry them out well! Still, the whole procedure takes 60 to 90 minutes, and a second appointment is sometimes needed to clean all the root canals.
A root canal “kills” and weakens the tooth
The treatment devitalizes the tooth, but that does not stop it from staying in place and doing its usual job. And if the tooth seems more fragile or more deeply affected, it will be closed with an inlay or a crown instead of a filling.