Root Canal Procedure

What Is a Root Canal?

Root canal therapy is designed to eliminate inflammation and infection from the tooth pulp and root canals. You may need this treatment if the pulp has become inflamed or infected.

The tooth pulp is in the center of the tooth, in the pulp chamber, and its tissues extend into the root canals in the tooth roots. It is a collection of tissues, including nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels, and is necessary during tooth development. An adult tooth can survive perfectly well without the pulp, but it is considered non-vital.

During treatment, the tooth pulp is removed, the root canals are cleaned and shaped using special files, and the tooth is disinfected before it is permanently sealed and restored. Usually, a dental crown is fitted over a tooth following root canal therapy.

Signs You May Need a Root Canal

Symptoms of tooth infection or inflammation can include:

• Severe toothache that may be continual or only present when you bite down.
• Tooth sensitivity to temperature changes in foods and beverages.
• Swollen, tender gum around the infected tooth.
• Tooth discoloration, so it could start to look darker than before.
• A pimple on the gum nearest the tooth, which can indicate pus buildup.
• Pain radiating from your jaw into your face or affecting nearby teeth.

Root canal treatment may also be necessary if you experience a blow to the mouth, resulting in inflammation and swelling of the dental pulp, or have a cracked tooth that allows harmful bacteria to penetrate it, leading to infection.

What Can Cause Pulp Damage or Infection?

Infection often occurs when enamel is compromised by a cavity or cracked tooth syndrome. Bacteria then reach the pulp, causing inflammation, pain, and sometimes abscess formation.

Typical causes include:

• A deep, untreated cavity or a filling that has failed.
• Repeated dental treatments on the same tooth that has inflamed the tooth pulp.
• Cracks or chips in a tooth.
• Gum disease that has spread to the tooth roots.

If you recognize any of the symptoms or suspect something is wrong with a tooth, we strongly recommend seeing a dentist as soon as possible. The sooner we can treat a tooth, the more likely it is that we can save it.

Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment can provide numerous benefits, including:

• Quickly relieving pain and discomfort.
• Preventing infection from spreading.
• Restoring the ability to bite and chew comfortably.
• Protecting nearby teeth and your jawbone.

Perhaps the most important benefit is that root canal treatment can save the tooth from extraction.

Otherwise, the only treatment to eliminate any infection or inflammation is to remove it, a measure we only suggest as a last resort. Whenever possible, we strive to preserve natural teeth.

The Root Canal Procedure Step by Step

Step One: Consultation & Diagnostics

When you visit NYC Dentistry Center, a root canal specialist will carefully examine your tooth, ask about your symptoms, and take digital dental X-rays of the tooth. Other tests may include placing something cold on the tooth to assess if the nerve has died.

The X-rays are necessary because they will show us how badly the tooth is infected and if the infection has affected the surrounding tissues. These images also show the shape and number of root canals that require cleaning, reshaping, and disinfection during your treatment.

Step Two: Root Canal Procedure

Before we begin, a local anaesthetic ensures you feel completely comfortable and will not experience any pain during your treatment. A rubber dam is placed over the tooth, isolating it and ensuring it remains dry during your treatment.

A small opening is made in your tooth so we can see the pulp and begin removing all the tissues in the pulp and root canals. We will almost certainly use microscopic dentistry when cleaning the tooth and reshaping the root canals to ensure all infected tissue is removed.

Once all the tissue is removed and the root canals are filed and shaped, the tooth is disinfected. We may place topical antibiotics into the tooth if the infection is severe, and seal it with a temporary filling material. This is to ensure it is infection-free before it is permanently sealed with gutta-percha.

Step Three: Tooth Restoration

A root-treated tooth is typically restored with a dental crown that completely covers it, as it will have likely lost a substantial portion of its original structure due to decay or dental trauma.

A digital impression is taken of your tooth. It will be used to create your new crown in our dental lab, a process that can take up to two weeks. In the meantime, we protect the tooth with a temporary crown.

Alternatively, we may be able to make your permanent crown on the same day using CAD/CAM technology and our on-site milling machine. This technology creates beautiful, high-quality, precision-made porcelain crowns, eliminating the need for a temporary crown and a second visit.

What to Expect after Root Canal Therapy

While the acute nerve pain is eliminated during the procedure, the surrounding tissue and periodontal ligament require a few days to heal. Expect mild, transient tenderness when biting or applying pressure, which typically peaks and resolves within 48 to 72 hours.

To ensure proper healing and protect the treated tooth, follow these guidelines:

• Pain Management: Any localized post-operative sensitivity is inflammatory rather than infectious. It can be easily controlled using standard over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen.
• Structural Protection: Until the tooth is reinforced with a permanent custom crown or definitive restoration, the remaining structure is vulnerable to fracturing. Avoid chewing hard or crunchy foods on that side of your mouth.
• Clinical Red Flags: If your pain steadily intensifies, throbbing persists beyond the first few days, or visible swelling develops in the surrounding gums, contact our office immediately for an evaluation.

Long-Term Aftercare

Once your tooth is fully restored, you will be able to bite and chew normally without pain, but proper care will help prolong its life.

Ensure you follow a good daily oral hygiene routine and visit us regularly for dental exams and hygiene appointments, so we can professionally clean your teeth and check their condition.

Risks & Considerations

Root canal therapy has a very high success rate, but there is always a small chance that complications may arise.

In a small percentage of cases, a tooth can become reinfected, especially if the root canals were not cleaned thoroughly originally. This is partly why we use microscopic dentistry to help reduce this risk as much as possible.

A tooth that becomes reinfected may require further root canal treatment, but we would assess it carefully to ensure there is a reasonable chance of long-term success.

If we believe the chances of successful root canal retreatment are limited, we may suggest removing the tooth and considering an alternative form of restoration, such as a dental bridge or implant.

If you are experiencing tooth pain or infection, a root canal procedure at NYC Dentistry Center in Midtown East can help save your natural tooth. Call our office at (212) 518-6096 or visit our dentistry center to learn more.

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