What Are the Stages of Root Canal Treatment?

While root canal therapy can be an easy one-visit process, there is more to that story. Here are all the steps necessary for a complete repair:

Diagnosing the problem/anaesthesia — our dentist does a thorough examination of the tooth, including X-rays, to determine the condition inside and out. Once the need to perform a root canal therapy is confirmed, you will receive some local anaesthetic to numb the area. Nothing is done until the tooth is completely numb.

Accessing the pulp — a small hole is made in the tooth to gain access to the infected tissue and remove it. We then remove the infected tissues from the canals.

Cleaning and shaping — the canals are thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and shaped to prepare for filling. At Randwick Dental Clinic, we use ultrasonic vibrations to gently but thoroughly remove all the bacteria and infected material.

Filling and sealing the canals — a flexible, rubbery filler is placed in the empty canals to prevent bacteria from re-entering. A temporary seal is placed over the hole.

Placing a permanent restoration — making sure the seal is permanent is important to ensure the therapy is successful. That may be a filling or crown.

Why Crowns on Back Teeth

The patient chooses the material for their permanent restoration, such as a filling or crown, based on the tooth that’s being restored. Our dentist recommends crowns especially on posterior teeth, because the repaired tooth may become brittle because of the hole in the middle. Crowns provide an extra layer of stability to the repair and help prevent complications that may occur with fillings.

Any invasive or surgical procedure may carry risks. Before moving forward, it is recommended that you seek a second opinion from an appropriately licensed medical professional.