A root canal aims to relieve pressure and completely remove damaged nerve tissue, providing almost immediate pain relief. The process involves cleaning, filing, and sealing the root canals. Here are the key stages of root canal therapy:
Removal of the Unhealthy Nerve – This step is often performed right after the initial toothache to offer immediate pain relief. Once the tooth is numbed, the pulp chamber is accessed, cleaned, and filled with a medication paste that quickly alleviates inflammation, soothes the nerve, and reduces bacteria. The access point is then temporarily sealed, and by the time the anaesthetic wears off, the tooth should feel much better.
Cleaning and Preparing the Root Canal System – The most critical part of root canal therapy is removing any abscess-causing bacteria from the root canals. This is done by carefully filing and irrigating the canals with an antibacterial solution. An antibacterial medication is placed inside, and the tooth is temporarily sealed. A follow-up appointment is scheduled in 3-4 weeks to allow the medication to thoroughly disinfect the canals.
Filling the Root Canal System – During the final visit, the temporary filling is removed, and any remaining medication is cleaned out of the canals. The canals are then irrigated again with an antibacterial solution, and sealed with a safe, biologically compatible filler to ensure no bacteria can enter. The tooth is then restored with a resin filling.