Endodontics

Endodontics is the study of the inner structure of the tooth, known as the pulp. The pulp is a soft tissue at the core of the tooth which provides blood supply and protection of the tooth nerve.
When a tooth is infected by bacteria, it’s possible for this inner pulp material to become infected as well. When this happens, the pulp becomes inflamed and painful. As the pulp surrounds the tooth nerve, this pain can be quite severe.

There are two possible ways to treat severely infected tooth pulp.

• Root canal treatment.
• Remove the tooth.

A root canal treatment is the last, best option to save an infected tooth short of removing it. Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, involves removing the infected pulp tissue and replacing it with a synthetic pulp material.

Root canal treatment has a bad association with pain, but the reality is root canals relieve pain, rather than cause it. Severe pulp infections are intensely painful, and successfully removing the infected tissue allows the patient to return to a pain-free life.

Endodontic treatment has several stages:

• A small hole is drilled through the enamel to allow specialist tools to access the pulp.
• The pulp is carefully removed. All of the pulp must be taken out, to prevent reinfection.
• The pulp chamber is filled with a gum-like substance to protect the nerve and restore the internal support lost from the removal of the pulp.
• A dental crown is placed over the tooth to restore its structure and strength.

Depending on the tooth and the severity of the infection, it can take one or two visits to properly complete endodontic treatment.