What is a root canal?

Endodontic therapy (root canal) is a procedure done in order to save a tooth. This is a treatment in which the injured or infected pulp tissue inside a tooth is replaced with a filling material.

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Root canal treatment doesn't cause pain, it relieves it. Most patients see their dentist or endodontist when they have a severe toothache. The toothache can be caused by damaged tissues in the tooth. Root canal treatment removes this damaged tissue from the tooth, thereby relieving the pain you feel.

What Is The Success Rate?

Although the pulp is removed your tooth remains alive, nourished by surrounding tissues.

Most endodontically treated teeth will last as long as the other permanent teeth you have, provided the patient is in good health and their body has the ability to repair the damaged bone.

There are some teeth which cannot be treated endodontically, for example some have fractured roots or advanced gum disease. In addition, there are times when a surgical procedure may be indicated to save your tooth. This will depend on the nature of the problems existing prior to treatment or if the tissues do not heal normally after root canal therapy has been completed.

Can All Teeth Be Treated Endodontically ?

Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth can't be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn't have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. Quite often when traditional endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.

Advantages Of Endodontic Therapy

The presence and appearance of natural teeth is psychologically important.

It is important for patients to retain as many natural teeth as possible in sound condition. This places as little stress as possible on the adjacent teeth. 

Teeth treated may be used in bridge construction.

Treatment may take place at any age.

Endodontic treatment results in fewer complications and less post-procedure pain than tooth extraction or implants.

Root canal treatment is generally less expensive than tooth extraction coupled with placement of a bridge or implants.

Who Performs Endodontic Treatment On Dental Patients?

During dental school, all dentists receive some training in root canal treatment. When a dentist decides whether to treat a patient they should consider the following factors; level of knowledge, degree of expertise, the available technology, the challenges or risks present and the chance of success.

Your family dentist may refer you to an endodontist because he or she believes that your case has the best chance to be successfully, efficiently and painlessly treated by an endodontist.

An endodontist is a dentist with advanced training in treating the diseased or damaged pulp, of your tooth. Endodontists spend at least two years after dental school, training to become endodontic specialists. In practice, they perform only endodontic procedures and therefore have extensive experience in this area. Endodontists use advanced technology to perform these special services. Many studies show a greater success rate from doctors who have extensive experience, and perform the procedure daily for many patients.

Why does my tooth need retreatment?

If you have a tooth that has had endodontic (root canal) treatment, it can last as long as your other natural teeth. In some cases, however, complete healing may not occur or there may be new problems months or even years after the initial treatment. When this happens, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist. It is sometimes possible for your endodontist to perform the treatment again with more successful results. This process is called retreatment.

Curved or narrow canals were not treated during the initial treatment

Complicated canals went undetected during the initial treatment

The crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time
following the procedure.

The crown or restoration did not prevent saliva from contaminating the inside of the tooth.
In some cases, new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated:

New decay can expose a root canal filling material, causing infection.

A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection.

What happens during endodontic retreatment?

Once retreatment has been selected as a solution to your problem, the doctors will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. This restorative material will be removed to enable access to the root canal. The doctors will now clean your canals and carefully examine the inside of the problematic tooth. Once cleaned, the doctors will fill and seal the canals and place a temporary filling in the tooth.

At this point, you will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or restoration placed on the tooth to restore full functionality.

Is retreatment the best treatment option for me?

The decision to retreat should be made by you, your dentist and your endodontist. While retreated teeth can last a lifetime, there is no guarantee that treatment will be more successful the second time. The treatment option for any particular patient must be made on an individual basis.

Specialist Member of the American Association of Endodontists