What is root canal treatment?
Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp, which holds the nerve and blood vessels. It runs down through the roots in narrow channels: the root canals. If deep decay, a crack or a knock lets germs in, the pulp can become inflamed or infected.
Root canal treatment, often called RCT, removes the infected pulp, cleans the canals, and seals them. Your own tooth stays in place.
Signs you may need one
- toothache that lasts, throbs, or wakes you at night
- pain from hot or cold that lingers after the food or drink is gone
- pain when you bite down
- swelling of the gum or face, or a pimple-like bump on the gum
- a tooth that has turned darker
Sometimes there are no signs at all, and the problem shows up on an X-ray. If you have swelling of the face together with a fever, get seen urgently.
What happens
- Examination and X-ray to see the shape of the roots and how far the infection has gone.
- Numbing. The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic.
- Cleaning. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth, the infected pulp is removed, and the canals are cleaned, shaped and disinfected.
- Sealing. The canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed.
- Closing the tooth with a filling. Back teeth usually need a crown afterwards (see below).
Treatment usually takes one or two visits. If the infection is severe, medicine may be placed inside the tooth between visits so it can settle first.
InfectedDecay has reached the pulp
CleanedPulp removed with fine files
FilledCanals sealed; the bone heals
CappedA crown protects the tooth
Afterwards
The tooth may feel tender for a few days, and ordinary painkillers usually help. Avoid chewing hard food on it until it has been fully restored. Most people go back to their normal day straight after the appointment.
Why a cap often follows
A back tooth that has had root canal treatment is more brittle and can crack under chewing forces. A crown, or cap, covers and protects it. Front teeth take less force and may only need a filling.
Root canal or taking the tooth out?
Keeping your own tooth is usually the better choice. If a tooth is taken out, the gap should be filled, with an implant, a bridge or a denture, to stop the teeth around it drifting. That often costs more in the end than saving the tooth.
Your dentist
Dr. Laura Albuquerque
Dr. Laura practises general dentistry, including root canal treatment. With an MDS in Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, she can also make the crown that protects the tooth afterwards, so the whole treatment stays at one clinic.
Common questions
Is root canal treatment painful?
The tooth is numbed, so the treatment itself should feel much like having a filling. It relieves the pain the infection was causing. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is common.
How much does root canal treatment cost in Goa?
It depends mainly on the tooth. Front teeth usually have one canal, while back teeth have three or more, which takes longer. A back tooth usually also needs a cap afterwards, which is a separate cost. Dr. Laura will tell you the full cost before treatment starts.
How many visits does a root canal take?
Usually one or two. A badly infected tooth may need an extra visit so it can settle with medicine inside it first.
Can I just take antibiotics instead?
Antibiotics alone do not cure an infected tooth, because the germs are inside the tooth where the medicine cannot reach well. They are sometimes given when swelling is spreading, but the tooth still needs to be cleaned out.
What happens if I wait?
The infection can spread into the bone and form an abscess, and the tooth may become too damaged to save. Early treatment is simpler.
Can I go to work after a root canal?
Most people can. Your mouth will be numb for a few hours, so wait until the feeling comes back before eating.
This page gives general information, not advice for your own teeth. Dr. Laura will explain what suits you, and what it will cost, after examining you.