Basic dental care
Root canal treatment
Inside the hard outer layer of a tooth is a soft pulp containing blood vessels and nerves. For example, trauma or bacteria from advanced tooth decay can damage the pulp. The pulp can often heal minor damage on its own, but when the damage is severe enough, the pulp becomes necrotic and easily serves as a breeding ground for microbes.
A sign of tooth pulp damage that will not heal on its own is often severe pain and, in particular, sensitivity to heat. Sometimes the damage may also be completely asymptomatic. Bacteria festering inside the tooth can spread through the root into the jawbone and from there into the bloodstream, posing a risk to overall health.
Root canal therapy removes damaged tissue from the core and roots of the tooth. The hollow tooth is then filled with a filling material to prevent bacterial growth.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and is usually completely painless for the patient.
A root canal treated tooth is always weaker than an undamaged tooth. Therefore, we recommend a ceramic filling or crown for a root canal treated tooth to prevent further chipping.
Select “Dental appointment (e.g., 2–3 fillings or start of root canal treatment), up to 45 minutes” from our booking calendar
Experiences with root canal treatment
Root Canal Treatment – Frequently Asked Questions
Most people return to their normal daily routine immediately after treatment. Often, the temporary filling needs a few hours to set, so you should avoid eating during this time. You should also wait for the numbing effect to wear off. This means you can go to work after treatment, but speaking may be difficult due to the numbness.
Root canal treatment is a procedure in which the inflamed or dead pulp of a tooth is removed from the root canals. The root canals are then cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent bacteria from entering. The goal is to save the natural tooth and prevent the infection from spreading.
Typical symptoms include severe throbbing pain, a stinging sensation caused by heat, tenderness when biting, or an abscess in the gum. Sometimes the tooth may be completely asymptomatic, and the infection is detected on an X-ray. The dentist makes the diagnosis based on an examination and the necessary imaging. The most common reason for root canal treatment is dental caries, or advanced tooth decay.
However, early-stage pulpitis does not always show up on X-rays, which makes it difficult to reach an accurate diagnosis. At Ebeling Dentists, we strive for non-invasive treatment and avoid extracting teeth in cases where the situation is unclear.
Root canal treatment is always performed under local anesthesia and is usually painless. After the procedure, the tooth may be sensitive for a few days, but this is normal and usually subsides quickly. Any follow-up visits are often painless once the tooth’s roots have been removed and the tooth is no longer sensitive.
A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment can last for years or even a lifetime if properly protected. However, since the tooth is structurally weaker than a completely healthy tooth, a ceramic filling or crown is often recommended to prevent chipping.
Yes, quite often, especially for molars, which are subjected to heavy chewing pressure. A ceramic crown strengthens the tooth and significantly extends its lifespan. This is also in line with the Current Care guidelines.
If the pulp of a tooth is already dead or severely inflamed, it will not heal on its own. Symptoms may temporarily subside, but the inflammation usually continues to progress unnoticed.
In root canal treatment, the goal is to preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible by removing only the infected tissue. Tooth extraction, on the other hand, involves removing the entire tooth (both the crown and the roots), in which case the lost tooth often needs to be replaced with a dental implant, bridge, or denture to maintain proper bite function and prevent harmful movement of the surrounding teeth.
After treatment the dentist monitors healing through follow-up visits and X-rays. The area of inflammation in the jawbone should shrink and eventually disappear over time.