“Endo” means ‘inside’ and ‘odont’ means ‘tooth’ in Greek. Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth. Root canal treatment is a type of endodontic treatment.
To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, underneath the white enamel and a hard layer called dentin, there is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue and forms the hard tissues that surround the tooth during development.
The pulp extends from the top of the tooth to the tip of the roots, where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The pulp is important during the growth and development of the tooth. However, when a tooth is fully mature, it can survive without pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. Inflammation or infection can have various causes; deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. Also, an injury to the tooth can cause pulp damage even if there is no visible chip or crack in the tooth. If left untreated, pulp inflammation or infection can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
How Many Sessions Does Root Canal Treatment Take?
Most root canals can be done in one to two appointments. The first appointment is the procedure itself, where the infected pulp is removed. The second (and perhaps third) appointment is when the root canal is cleaned and filled with a crown or other filling to prevent infections. Each appointment takes about 90 minutes.
What Not to Do After Root Canal Treatment?
After root canal treatment, make sure you follow all of your endodontist's instructions, which usually include avoiding hard or particularly chewy foods, brushing twice a day and being very careful around the area where the root canal treatment was completed.
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