Root Canal Treatment Procedure
Firstly, the tooth is isolated from the rest of the mouth with a rubber sheet, to prevent bacteria in saliva re-infecting the tooth during treatment. Then a small hole is made in the tooth, leading to the root canal. The infection and decay are gently removed using a succession of very small files, increasing in diameter until the tooth is clean.
Once all infected material is removed, the root canal is filed into a tapered shape and filled with Gutta Percha – a latex derivative. Even though the dead tooth remains in place, it is no longer connected to the body’s blood supply, and in the future will become dry and brittle. Therefore the final stage of root canal treatment is to fit the tooth with a dental crown, helping to seal the whole of the tooth and protect it against future decay and damage.