About the procedure

The first step is to carry out an adequate diagnosis through medical tests and x-rays.

Afterwards the endodontic will anesthetize the area to be treated, then he/she will isolate the tooth with a material known as dental dam to avoid filtering of fluids to the oral cavity of the surgery area and to protect the patient of entering any substances, materials and instruments into his/her mouth.

Then an access cavity is made through the tooth crown until it reaches the pulp tissue which is removed with an instrument called file and special substances until the internal space in the roots of the tooth have been completely cleaned and disinfected.  After the procedure, this space is sealed with a material called gutta-percha and with special cements that allow an adequate seal of the tooth’s internal anatomy.

Once the root canal is finished the tooth restoration is next.

Root canal treatment can be done in only one session or it may require several sessions depending on the anatomical complexity or the tooth contamination degree when the procedure begins.

Best candidates

Patients with dental pieces which have enough healthy tissue to be restored and that have experienced one or more of the following symptoms:

• Extensive decays or deep restorations

• Spontaneous dental pain or caused by drinking or eating cold, hot or sweet food

• Dental trauma

• Habits like grind your teeth (bruxism)

• Advanced periodontal disease

• Presence of fistula or swelling in the gums or face

• Pain when chewing or touching the tooth

Post-treatment recommendations

In case it is necessary, analgesics or antibiotics will be prescribed.

Once the root canal has been done, the tooth has to be restored to avoid fractures or contamination of the treatment.

Root canals demand to carry out medical checkups and regular x-rays of teeth to evaluate the tissue´s good health.

Risks involved

If a tooth’s infection is not treated on time, it can spread from its interior to the surrounding tissues and look as an abscess.

Feel pain after the root canal treatment or between appointments which can be treated with analgesics and/or antibiotics according to each case.

Treatment can fail due to the presence of very resistant bacteria or anatomic/procedure complications.  An apicoectomy is recommended in this case, which is a surgical procedure where a piece of the infected root is removed and sealed with special materials to promote tissue separation.

In some cases it is necessary to pull the tooth when it has suffered fractures or when it is considered not to fulfill the necessary requirements to be adequately restored.

• Request more information