The following is an outline of the steps a dentist follows when they provide conventional root canal treatment for a tooth. For more: https://www.lakeridgedental.ca/
2. The following is an outline of the
steps a dentist follows when they
provide conventional root canal
treatment for a tooth.
2
3. Step 1 - Placing the
rubber dam.
After numbing you up, your dentist will first
"isolate" your tooth by way of placing a rubber
dam. A dental dam is simply a sheet of "rubber"
(actually, latex in most cases) that's pulled over
your tooth so it pokes through
4.
5. Step 2 - Creating the
access cavity.
As a start point for actually beginning to
perform your tooth's work, your dentist will
need to create an opening to its nerve space.
This step is called creating the "access
cavity."
6.
7. Step 3 - Identifying all of the tooth's
root canals.
Once the entrance into the interior of your tooth
has been made, your dentist will need to identify
each of its root canals.
8. Step 4 - Measuring the length of
the tooth.
Your dentist's goal will be one of treating the
entire length of each of your tooth's root canals
but not beyond. Doing so is not only important
for creating treatment success but also helps to
minimize complications with post-operative
pain.
9.
10. Step 5 - Cleaning and shaping the
tooth's root canals.
In regard to this step:
Its cleaning aspect removes nerve tissue (live
and/or dead), as well as bacteria, toxins and
other debris harbored inside the tooth. (Here's
more detailed information about why this is
needed.)
Shaping refers to a process where the contours
of the tooth's canals are enlarged and flared, so
they have a shape that's more ideal for the
procedure's filling and sealing step.
11. Step 6 - Sealing the
tooth.
The most frequently used root canal filling
material is a compound called gutta percha. It
has a flexible, rubbery nature, both at room
temperature and even more so when warmed.
Gutta percha comes in preformed cones (often
referred to as "points") whose sizes exactly
match the dimensions (diameter, taper) of root
canal files.
12. Step 7 - Placing a
temporary filling.
Once your dentist has finished sealing all of your
tooth's individual root canals (many teeth have
more than one, see link above), they'll take an x-
ray of your tooth so they can evaluate and
document their work.
They'll also need to place some type of
temporary filling. It will seal off the access cavity
created at the beginning of your procedure,
therefore protecting the work that's just been
completed.
O
13.
14. Step 8 - The root canal process has
now been completed but your
tooth still requires additional work.
