Dentistry is an essential element of modern healthcare, as our teeth and mouths can harbour bacteria and cause knock-on effects that strain our general health. Most people will require a dental procedure in their lives to treat and prevent any further complications, one of the most common of these being a root canal. But what is a root canal?
In its essence, a root canal is a dental procedure that treats a tooth with an infected or inflamed pulp. The “pulp” is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains the tooth’s nerve. Due to the infection, the pulp itself can feel very painful.
A root canal becomes necessary when the dental pulp becomes damaged, inflamed, or infected. The procedure can save the natural tooth from being extracted or from the infection spreading elsewhere in the mouth or body. The most common reason a root canal is required is due to an infection of the pulp, also known as ‘Pulpitis’. This inflammation can be caused by several factors, including:
- Deep tooth decay, which may leave a cavity vulnerable to bacteria that can reach the pulp.
- A chipped or cracked tooth can similarly expose the pulp to infection.
- Repeated dental procedure on the same tooth.
- A dental abscess, which is a pocket of pus that forms at the tip of the tooth’s root due to infection and may spread infection to the pulp.
How long will a root canal take, and what does it involve?
The root canal procedure will typically take at most two appointments, usually one, to eliminate the infection. However, the time of the procedure may depend on what tooth is being treated, with more time being dedicated to Molars.
Initially, the dentist, or an endodontist (a dentist who specialises in root canals), will inject the gums with local anesthesia to completely numb the area. Following this, a dental dam (a thin rubber sheet) is placed around the tooth to keep it clean and dry. At this point, the tooth has been effectively numbed and prepped for the procedure.
The dentist then makes an opening in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp chamber. Any abscess or infected pulp is carefully removed from the chamber and the root canals.
The inside of the tooth and the root canals are intricately cleaned and disinfected, and they are often washed multiple times.
The canals are then shaped to prepare them for filling. A temporary filling is often placed to close the opening, and the dentist may ask you to return for another appointment to fit a permanent filling. In this follow-up visit, the temporary filling would be removed and a permanent restoration is placed. This usually includes a crown, which is a cap that covers the tooth to protect it from fracture and restore its function.
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Is a root canal painful?
In plain terms, no, a root canal is not painful. The procedure aims to relieve pain caused by an infected tooth, not cause it. Modern dental techniques and anesthetics allow for the area around the tooth to be completely numb before the treatment begins.
Before the procedure, the dentist or endodontist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the infected tooth and the surrounding gum. During the root canal, the dentist removes the infected pulp, which is the source of the pain.
Following the treatment, it’s normal to experience some mild to moderate soreness for a few days. This is due to swelling of the surrounding gum tissue, not the procedure. This discomfort should be temporary and can be effectively managed with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen. Equally, in the hours following a root canal, you may continue to experience numbness of the area whilst the anaesthetic wears off.
However, the idea that root canals are a painful procedure is a common misconception, often stemming from the pain of the initial tooth infection itself. Essentially, the root canal is the solution that stops the pain, not the cause of it.
