Root canal treatment
When the inside of a tooth is infected or badly inflamed, root canal treatment often makes it possible to keep the tooth rather than extract it.
What is it?
A tooth contains living tissue, the pulp, in very fine canals. A deep cavity, a crack or a knock can infect it. Treatment consists of cleaning, disinfecting and then filling these canals.
Once treated, the tooth is no longer sensitive to hot or cold, but it stays in place and continues to work for chewing.
Who is it for? Signs that mean you should see a dentist
- Severe pain, or pain that wakes you at night.
- Sensitivity to heat that lingers.
- Swelling of the gum or cheek.
- A tooth that darkens after a knock.
Fever, swelling that is spreading, difficulty swallowing or breathing: go to the emergency department without delay.
What you can expect
The first aim is to relieve the pain and treat the infection. The second is to keep your tooth, which remains the most natural solution when it can be saved.
A root-treated tooth becomes more brittle over time. The restoration that follows treatment therefore matters as much as the treatment itself.
The treatment
- Examination and X-ray. To confirm that treatment is needed and to see the shape of the canals.
- Local anaesthesia. The tooth is numbed before treatment, so that it is as comfortable as possible.
- Cleaning and filling. The canals are cleaned, disinfected and then filled, in one or more sessions.
- Rebuilding. The tooth is rebuilt; a crown is often advised to protect it.
- Check-up. A follow-up X-ray may be taken later to check healing around the root.
Aftercare and limits
- Some discomfort when chewing for a few days is common.
- A root-treated tooth is more fragile: that is why a crown is often proposed.
- Treatment can fail; retreatment or an extraction is then discussed.
- Some teeth, badly cracked or too damaged, cannot be kept.
The alternative
Extracting the tooth, followed if you wish by replacing it (an implant, a bridge or a denture). Keeping your own tooth, when possible, is generally preferable.
Care and follow-up
Between two sessions, avoid chewing on the treated side if a temporary dressing is in place. Afterwards, you brush and clean the tooth like the others.
Do not delay the planned restoration or crown: a root-treated tooth left unprotected may fracture. Regular check-ups make it possible to monitor the tooth over time.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
Treatment is carried out under local anaesthesia. Some discomfort may follow for a few days.
How many sessions?
One or more, depending on the infection and the number of canals.
Do I need a crown afterwards?
Often, especially for back teeth, which take a lot of chewing force. The dentist tells you after the treatment.
Can a root-treated tooth darken?
Yes, this happens over time. Depending on the case, whitening of that tooth or a crown may be proposed.
A clinical consultation is needed to determine whether this treatment is right for you.