A root canal procedure usually treats teeth that have become severely damaged “by decay, fractures, severely worn down teeth or trauma”, which causes an infection of the soft inner pulp (nerve) of the tooth. “Endo” is a Greek word meaning “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Put them together and you have endodontics, a branch of dentistry concerned with treating the inside of teeth (dental pulp), as well as the tissues that surround the roots of a tooth. It involves cleaning and medicating an infected nerve or root canal of the tooth and then filling it with a root canal filling. Root canal treatments have a reputation for being painful, but modern techniques and anesthetics, usually make the procedure no more uncomfortable than having a tooth filled. The only thing that mostly hurts is your tooth before the root canal is performed. Each of your teeth contains one or more root canals, or tiny passageways that contain pulp “nerve tissue”. Dental pulp is the center part of a tooth made up of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. These structures within the pulp are what feed your tooth with vital nutrients to keep it healthy and functioning properly.

These structures can become infected by an untreated decayed carious cavity, loose fillings and trauma which allows bacteria to invade the nerve tissue. A cracked tooth can also lead to tooth decay and infection. A poor inadequate root canal treatment also leads to infection in the tooth root canals and in the bone surrounding the affected tooth. The infection leads to inflammation, which irritates the nerves inside the tooth, causing pain and discomfort. Without treatment, the blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth can become necrotic “dead”, severely infected and you may be at risk of losing your tooth.

If you experience pain in a tooth while chewing, have swollen or tender gums around an affected tooth, or notice that a tooth is sensitive to hot or normal temperatures, then your tooth nerve structure may be infected. Left untreated, this infection can lead to a painful tooth abscess. The infection can spread to your gum and jawbone and have a swelling beside the infected tooth.

Dental pulp tissue serves as the mouth’s natural “alarm system.” If trauma or decay is present, the pulp will experience pressure and sensitivity which you would then perceive as pain. It is the initial warning that something may be wrong. The nerves within and beside the tooth structure also serve as an alarm system to stop you from over-biting on the teeth and prevent its fractures. This pressure control mechanism is lost from within a root canal treated tooth and as such the tooth becomes brittle, prone to fracture and accordingly especially the back teeth “premolars and molars “that are subject to heavy bites will usually need a full or a partial crown to prevent their fracture.

How Do You Know You Need a Root Canal?
Root canal procedures are considered dental emergencies. In many cases, the pain is so debilitating that patients find it difficult to function. We schedule every root canal treatment as soon as possible to relief your pain and ensure that the infection does not spread to nearby teeth or other oral structures. The most common signs include:

• Tooth pain/discomfort when chewing or biting
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts after the source of heat or cold has been removed
• Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
• Pain and swelling of the face or neck
• Persistent swollen, sore and tender gums beside the affected tooth
• Swelling above the tooth that keeps forming and disappearing


• In some cases, patients may not show any signs or have any complaint. For this reason, routine dental visits are important. During an examination, using advanced 3D radiography, we should detect potential problems before they start.

What Is Involved in a Root Canal Procedure?
Depending on the difficulty of the procedure and the extent of the infection, you may need one or multiple visits to complete the treatment. A standard root canal procedure involves a local anaesthetic to numb the area near the tooth and a rubber dam placed around the tooth to keep it dry during the procedure. A hole is drilled into the surface of the tooth to enable the dentist to remove active decay and infection.



The hollow canals within the tooth root then need to be shaped into smooth, hollow tunnels that are free of irregularities where residual bacteria may sit using irrigation solutions, tiny endodontic files, special disinfectants and medication. This step may have to be repeated several times. The interior of the tooth (root canal) is filled with a rubber polymer material and sealed to prevent bacteria from re-infecting the empty canals in your tooth. The access hole is then filled and permanently sealed with a long-lasting barrier material. Patients can expect to feel discomfort in the root canal-treated tooth for the first few days following the procedure. Any pain should subside after taking over-the-counter pain medications.



A tooth that needs a root canal often has excessive decay or a large filling so it can be weakened following the root canal procedure. To strengthen it and to make sure no bacteria from the oral environment can leak back into the tooth, a dental full coverage crown or a partial crown “such as an inlay/onlay or overlay” may be placed on top of it to provide protection against its fracture and help it function effectively.

Are There Any Alternative Treatments?
If a tooth is in need of a root canal treatment, there is an infection inside the tooth’s roots, then the only other alternative to root canal treatment is extraction of the offending tooth. You can then replace the tooth with a permanent bridge, implant, or a partial removable denture. We will generally recommend a root canal as this is the simplest way to relieve your pain and retain your natural tooth. Because root canal treatment spares at least part of the natural tooth, root canals are often the preferred way of handling significant tooth damage. An extraction followed by bridgework or an implant is an alternative that we prefer to avoid as long as the tooth is salvable by other conservative means. This procedure also heals bone abscesses “inflammation” and loss caused by infections of the tooth’s nerve tissue.

With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last as long as other natural teeth and often for a lifetime, least said postponing all other alternatives for tooth loss.

Steps to Prevent Future Root Canal Procedures
Although a root canal procedure is not generally painful, avoiding major dental work is always preferable. You can minimize your chances of undergoing a root canal procedure in the future by following good oral hygiene practices and paying close attention to your dental health.

• Brush and floss regularly.
• Have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
• Wear protective mouth guards while playing sports to reduce chances of injury.
• Have the integrity of any fillings or dental restoration checked during dental visits.
• Have regular professional clinical mouth examination twice a year and radiographic assessment as advised.
• If you are in need of a root canal therapy, be advised to do it with a well experienced dentist or a specialist to avoid repeating the procedure later on.
• If you have multiple deep/large fillings, bridge works and crowns, make use of our available 3D imaging technology that will reveal problems as soon as they appear unlike the regularly used panoramic and small intra-oral 2D x-rays that show problems after a significant amount of bone destruction has occurred.

Often considered one of the most dreaded dental procedures, root canal therapy is used to treat a dying, dead or inflamed tooth pulp and is actually a straightforward and painless procedure that not only relieves pain but also saves a natural tooth. At Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, a dedicated professional specialist provides all aspects of endodontic care (Root Canal Therapy) and is highly committed into making your visits as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Working as a team we aim to educate you about your treatment, so that you can fully understand how your visit to us can successfully integrate into the remainder of your dental and overall healthcare. We provide gentle, comprehensive dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment, offering a wide range of Aesthetic and Restorative dental treatments.