Root Canal
Explained

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure to treat infection at the center of a tooth (the root canal system). Root canal treatment is also called endodontics.

The infection is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth when:
• tooth decay occurs.
• fillings leak.
• teeth are damaged by trauma, such as a fall.

Tooth structure

A tooth is made up of two parts:
• The crown is the part of the tooth that is visible in the mouth.
• The root extends into the bone of the jaw, anchoring the tooth in position.

These are composed of the following structures:
• Enamel is the hard outer coating of a tooth.
• Dentine is a softer material that supports the enamel and forms most of the tooth.
• Cementum is a hard material that coats the root surface.
• Dental pulp is the soft tissue at the center of the tooth.

The root canal system contains the dental pulp and extends from the crown of the tooth to the end of the root. A single tooth can have more than one root canal.

“We live in a crisis with antibiotics: most of them are failing. Because of the drug- resistance that most microbes develop, antimicrobials stop working, especially with recurring infections,” says Dr. Niepa, author on the paper and assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the Swanson School, with secondary appointments in civil and environmental engineering and bioengineering.

Infection

The pulp is made up of soft tissue that includes nerves and blood vessels. If bacteria infect the pulp, it will begin to die. After this, the bacteria can increase in number. The bacteria and the substances they release will eventually pass out of the end of the root canal through the small hole where the blood vessels and nerves enter. This process continues as there is nothing to stop more bacteria passing down the root canal, which causes the tissues around the end of the tooth to become red and swollen. This can cause your tooth to become painful and, in extreme circumstances, your face may become swollen (dental abscess).