Canal root surgery, often referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic treatment, is a dental procedure aimed at treating the inside of a tooth when it becomes infected or inflamed.
This treatment focuses on the root canals within the tooth, which are small, thin pathways that contain the tooth’s nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
Thus, canal root surgery (or root canal therapy) essentially stands for the process of treating the internal root canals of a tooth to eliminate infection, relieve pain, and preserve the natural tooth. This is achieved by:
- Diagnosing: Identifying the extent of the infection or damage through examination and X-rays.
- Anesthetizing: Numbing the affected area to prevent pain during the procedure.
- Accessing: Creating an opening in the tooth to reach the root canals.
- Removing: Extracting the infected or damaged pulp tissue.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the root canals to remove bacteria and debris.
- Filling: Filling the cleaned canals with a biocompatible material to seal them.
- Restoring: Sealing the tooth with a temporary or permanent filling, and often later placing a crown to restore the tooth’s function and appearance.
The term “canal root surgery” encompasses all these steps and signifies a critical dental procedure for saving a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted due to infection or severe damage.
