Root canal treatment, often abbreviated as RCT, is a dental procedure designed to save a tooth that has been severely damaged or infected. It involves removing the infected or inflamed pulp tissue from inside the tooth, cleaning and disinfecting the root canals, and then filling and sealing them to prevent further infection.
This procedure is typically recommended when the pulp, which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, becomes infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or trauma. Common symptoms indicating the need for root canal treatment include severe toothache, sensitivity to hot or cold, swelling, or a pimple on the gum near the affected tooth.
Root canal treatment is performed by a dentist or an endodontist, a specialist in treating dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of teeth. The process begins with the administration of local anesthesia to ensure the patient's comfort. Then, the dentist drills an access hole into the tooth and removes the infected pulp using small instruments called files. The root canals are cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to remove bacteria and debris. Once the canals are thoroughly cleaned, they are filled with a biocompatible material, usually gutta-percha, to seal them off and prevent recontamination.
