| Root Canal Treatment
from Start to Finish
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1. A
Deep Infection
Root canal treatment is
needed when the tooth's root becomes infected or inflamed through injury or advanced decay. |
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2. A
Route to the Root
The tooth is anesthetized.
An opening is made through the crown of the tooth to the pulp chamber. |
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3. Removing
the Infected/Inflamed Tissue
Special files
are used to clean the infection and unhealthy pulp out of the canals. Irrigation is used to help clean the main canal (called
lateral canals). |
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4. Filling
the Canals
The canals are filled with a
permanent material, often gutta-percha. This helps to keep the canals free of infection or contamination. |
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5. Rebuilding
the Tooth
A temporary filling material
is placed on top of the gutta-percha to seal the opening until the tooth is ready to be prepared for a crown. A crown, sometimes
called a cap, is made to look like a natural tooth, and is placed on top. |
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6. Extra
Support
In some cases, a post is placed
to give the crown extra support. |
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7. The Crowning
Touch
The crown is cemented into place |
