Root Canal Treatment

Understanding Root Canals
The best way to understand endodontic treatment is by learning the basic anatomy of the tooth.
The Anatomy of a Tooth
Under the hard, white enamel is a layer of tooth structure called dentin. Inside the hard dentin is a space that houses a soft layer of tissue called the pulp. The pulp consists of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves. The pulp is housed within the root canal space of a tooth. The front teeth typically have one canal while the back teeth typically have two, three, or four canals.
The Root Canal Process
When this pulp tissue becomes unhealthy and root canal treatment is needed to relieve pain or infection, a small hole is made in the enamel and dentin or the cap (crown) to provide access to the pulp. During root canal therapy, the unhealthy pulp tissue is removed with the use of various endodontic instruments. The root canal(s) is/are then cleaned and shaped. To prevent the penetration of bacteria the root canal(s) is/ are filled with an inert filling material.
Post Treatment
After completion of the root canal, it is important to have the tooth properly restored, ideally within one month, with either a filling or a cap (crown).

Front Range Endodontics