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Root Canal Therapy

Inside your tooth, beneath the hard layers of enamel and dentin, is a space called pulp chamber and root canal which contains pulp tissue. The pulp tissue is a collection of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The pulp tissue gets inflamed or infected when the bacteria enters the pulp through a cavity or a crack in the tooth.

A root canal treatment is a procedure to clean out the inflamed, dead pulp tissue and bacteria from the inner root canals of your tooth in order to relieve pain and save your tooth. The root canal treatment will also restore the health of the surrounding tissue and prevent further development of the disease in the future. Dr. Malyala will administer the local anesthesia to get the tooth profoundly numb. He will place a protective sheet around your tooth called “rubber dam” to isolate the tooth from the rest of the oral cavity.

Working under a surgical microscope (which provides superior magnification and lighting) Dr. Malyala will prepare a small opening in the crown of the tooth called the access cavity. Very small instruments along with GentleWave technology are then used to clean the inflamed, dead pulp tissue and bacteria from the root canal system. This process is called cleaning and shaping of the root canals. After cleaning and shaping, Dr. Malyala will fill the root canals with a natural rubber like biocompatible material called “gutta percha”. The root canals are filled with gutta percha to ensure a complete sealing of the root canals. Following sealing of the roots Dr. Malyala will place a temporary restoration in the tooth to further seal off the root canal system from the oral cavity. After treatment with Dr. Malyala, you need to return to your dentist to have a crown or permanent restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. Dr. Malyala will send a report of your treatment to your general dentist to keep them informed of the treatment completed at our office. Saving the teeth with root canal treatment has advantages of maintaining the chewing efficiency, natural appearance and health of adjacent teeth.
Does a root canal hurt?
Local anesthesia will be administered so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. You may have mild discomfort for a few days after the procedure. The state of the art GentleWave procedure that we use in our office not only disinfects the root canals thoroughly, it is known to minimize the postoperative discomfort.
How do you know if you need a root canal?
The following are some indications for the root canal treatment.
  • Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Pain while biting or chewing
  • Swollen or tender gums
  • Pimple on the gum
  • Deep decay involving the pulp of the tooth
  • Chipped or cracked teeth
Can I go to school or work after getting a root canal?
Most patients can return to school or work directly following root canal treatment.