Written by Dr. Mallika Manoj Prabhudesai, Consultant Dental Surgeon
Root canal treatment often gets a bad reputation, but in reality, it’s a safe and effective way to relieve tooth pain and prevent infections from spreading. This treatment preserves your natural teeth, which is always preferable to extraction.
Why Might You Need a Root Canal?
At the center of each tooth lies the pulp – the soft tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. It keeps the tooth alive. When the pulp gets damaged—due to deep decay, cracks, or repeated fillings—bacteria can invade, causing infection. Untreated infections can reach the tip of the root, spread to surrounding bone, and form painful abscesses, sometimes even leading to bone loss.
The Procedure Step by Step:
- Anesthesia: The area is numbed with a local anesthetic to ensure a pain-free experience.
- Access Opening: A small opening is made in the tooth to reach the pulp chamber and root canals.
- Cleaning: Diseased pulp is carefully removed using files or rotary instruments, followed by flushing with medicated solutions to eliminate any remaining bacteria and debris.
- Filling: The empty canals are filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha along with a sealer.
- Restoration: To prevent re-infection, a permanent restoration (usually a crown) is placed to strengthen the tooth, which may become more brittle after treatment.
Thanks to modern techniques and instruments, this treatment typically requires only one or two appointments.
Root canal treatment is more than just a procedure—it’s a way to save your natural tooth, protect your oral health, and maintain a confident smile.
Dr. Mallika Manoj Prabhudesai at Prabhudesai’s Elite Dental Care and Implant Center, Mandopa Navelim, Salcete, Goa, specializes in compassionate and advanced endodontic care to make your dental experience safe, comfortable, and effective.
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