| |
Root canal therapy is
a dental procedure used to preserve a tooth which has been damaged
resulting in exposure of the tooth root canal (the structure in the
center of the tooth which provides access to blood and nervous supply to
the tooth) to the outside. If a tooth is fractured, and the root
canal is exposed, bacteria from the mouth can enter the canal and cause
an infection and subsequent abscess. Teeth have one to 3 root
canals depending on the structure and size of the tooth.
 |
 |
| Example of a fractured tooth with root canal
exposure |
Radiograph of abscessed root of tooth |
When performing a root canal
procedure, our goals are:
- To remove the existing pulp and
nerve so that the pet loses any pain sensation from the tooth.
- To sterilize the inside of the
tooth to prevent infection
- To fill the the root canal
inert substance which will seal the tip of the tooth root to prevent
bacteria from entering or exiting the tooth.
- To seal the access holes used to
perform the root canal
- To protect the tooth with a metal
or porcelain crown.
The procedure is done under gas
anesthesia and may take from 1.5 to 2 hours to perform. Once
your pet is anesthetized, the following steps are taken:
-
Holes are drilled in
the tooth to allow access to the root canals.
-
The nerve and the
pulp are extracted from the canal using special instrumentation.
-
The canal is then
cleaned and shaped with files to allow for proper sealing.
-
Diluted bleach is
then used to sterilize the inside of the canal.
-
An inert material is
then forced into the canal and packed into the tip to seal the
tooth.
-
The access holes are
then sealed using uv-light activated bonding agents.
 |
 |
| Affected tooth with access holes drilled |
Tooth with files in place used to
clean and shape the canal for sealing |
In some cases, the procedure may be stopped
here, however in most cases, the tooth is then prepared for a
metallic crown, which will protect the tooth from cracking. To do
this, the following steps are taken:
The tooth is contoured to provide a lip upon
which the crown will sit.
An impression of the tooth is taken using
standard dental impression materials.
The impression is sent to the lab where a
perfectly fitting crown is created.
When the crown is returned to us, your pet is
re-anesthetized and the crown is cemented in place.
 |
 |
| Tooth after root canal therapy |
Tooth with metallic crown applied |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
