Root canal therapy

Root canal therapy prevents infection from spreading

Root canal infection is an infection of the tissues surrounding the tooth nerves which primarily occurs if cavities are left untreated.

Microbes penetrate the tooth pulp through the cavities and reach the root tips. This interrupts blood circulation in the tooth, causing the tooth to “die”. Root canal therapy is needed if a cavity has been left untreated and infection has reached too deep into the tooth nerve, causing severe pain. The tooth with an infected root may be decayed, have a filling, or have already gone through root canal therapy.

Root canal therapy prevents the infection from reaching the jawbone and causing life-threatening complications. The goal of the therapy is to remove irreversibly damaged tooth pulp from the tooth canals, disinfect the root canals, and fill them.

Accuracy in examinations

A detailed overview of the situation is crucial for efficient root canal therapy. Several X-rays are done during the root canal treatment to gain a detailed overview of the tooth’s anatomy, length of the root canal, and quality of the root filling. Unimed uses the NewTom VGI evo 3D X-ray machine that utilises the CBCT or 3D technology for highly detailed examinations. If necessary, a microscope is used to ensure that the root canal is perfectly clean during root canal treatment and the dentist doesn’t miss a single detail.

Root canal therapy normally requires two appointments

Generally, root canal therapy requires two appointments. In the first visit, the root canal is cleaned and filled with a sterilising medicine. In the second visit, the canals are filled and the tooth is finished. If the tooth is “alive”, local anaesthesia is used for the root canal therapy, whereas this is not necessary for a dead tooth.