The part of the tooth that is visible inside your mouth is called the crown of the tooth. The root of the tooth, which is usually twice as long as the crown, anchors the tooth to the jawbone. A tooth may have many roots depending on the size, location and function.

The tooth has a inner core of soft tissue called pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue which provides nourishment for the tooth during growth and development. Once the tooth is mature, the pulp's only function is sensory. A mature tooth then does not need the pulp and if the pulp becomes damaged, the tooth can be saved with a root canal procedure. The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root up to the crown of the tooth. The root canal is the chamber that contains the pulp. The blood vessels and nerves, which travel through the canal, leave the tooth through a small opening in the bottom of the tooth and then connect to the other major blood vessels and nerves running within the jawbone.

When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it becomes inflamed or infected. When the pulp tissue becomes inflamed, its harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth. The most common cause of this is tooth decay.

Tooth decay contains bacteria that if left untreated will progress through the outer enamel surface of the tooth into the underlying dentin. Ultimately, the bacteria will end up infecting the pulp. Once the pulp becomes infected, it begins to degenerate. As with any infection there is formation of pus. The pus accumulates at the tips of the roots within the jawbone forming a "pus-pocket" called an abscess. This abscess not only causes pain and swelling but also affects the jawbone. If this situation is not treated and the disease process is not kept under control by the body's defenses, the infection can begin to spread into other tissue spaces, such as those around the eye or in the neck. In some situations, this can become a serious medical emergency.

The procedure removes the infected pulp from the tooth and cleans the empty pulp chamber and then fills it with a special filling material. Even though the pulp has been removed from the inside of the tooth, the tooth is not dead. It continues to receive its blood supply and nourishment from the surrounding tissues and the supporting bone. After the root canal treatment, the tooth will not feel hot or cold but it will still retain normal sensation to touch or pressure.

Contrary to popular belief the treatment is not painful. You should be completely numb by local anesthesia, the tooth should have no feeling (to hot, cold, or pressure) during the procedure. Only after the dentist has confirmed that the patient has no pain will he /she begin. The amount of time the treatment takes depends on several factors including: the location of the tooth, number of roots & canals, and amount of infection present. The root canal procedure can be completed in a single appointment or it may require more visits.

1.) In the first step of the root canal procedure, local anesthesia is applied to completely numb the tooth so the patient feels nothing. Then a opening is created through the crown of the tooth in order to reach the infected pulp area using a dental drill.

2.) Next, the diseased pulp tissue is removed using specially designed instruments. The the length of the tooth is measured using a computer assisted device or by x-rays. An anterior tooth has only root but a posterior (molar) tooth may have more than three roots. All of the infected pulp must be removed from all the root canals present in a single tooth.

3.) After the pulp has been removed, the hollow chamber which contained the infected pulp is cleaned and shaped. Cleaning is usually done using saline water and thin dental files. The files are moved along the walls of the root canal making it large and smooth. It removes all traces of bacteria from the canal and also prepares it for the special filling.

4.) The next step in the treatment is to fill the empty canals with a special root canal filling material like gutta percha and sealed with a temporary filling.

5.) The last step in the root canal procedure often takes place on a second visit a few days or weeks later when a crown or cap is placed over the treated tooth. The crown protects the now fragile tooth from fracture. It is important that the crown be placed soon after the temporary filling because if the tooth does fracture, it then becomes nearly impossible to save the tooth. During this step a post (titanium or a steel screw) may be placed inside to support the cored build-up if the tooth lacks sufficient tooth structure of its own. Any areas of infection around the roots will now begin to heal.

The root canal procedure is now completed. The porcelain crown or cap fits over the core like a glove fits over a hand. The crown or cap improves the appearance and function of the natural crown it replaced. After the root canal treatment, your tooth should function and feel like your other teeth.

Now take care of your treated tooth like usual. Brush and floss regularly and go to your dentist twice per year for check-ups and cleaning. Fillings and crowns will have to be replaced every so often. Root canals don't last forever. If the pulp space inside the tooth becomes infected again ... then retreatment is necessary. It's very important to have regular checkups following a root canal. The root canal tooth won't give any more warning signals of decay or other problems because it lost its sensitivity to heat, cold, or sweet. Also, periodic x-rays need to be taken to be certain that no new decay or abscess has developed. So see your dentist regularly!

Go to Root Canal Symptoms to see if treatment might be necessary.

Go to Root Canal Cost to find the best rates for treatment.