The most common procedure done in Endodontics is root canal therapy. If the tooth decays and is not attended to in time the decay spreads deeper into the pulpal tissues (innermost part of the tooth) and cause pain. Such a tooth can be saved only by RCT. Root Canal Treatment is the removal of the infected pulpal tissues and filling the root canals with adequate root filling material. This way the dentist saves the tooth from the jaws of defeat and restores the tooth to its normal function. If no treatment is carried out even at this stage then there will be gross destruction of tooth structure and the tooth will be beyond repair. Such tooth will have to be removed.

Clinical Procedures:
The area around the tooth is made nub by injecting a local anesthesia into the surrounding tissues. A dental drill is used to remove the decayed part of the tooth. An access cavity is prepared to reach the root canals. The damaged pulp is completely removed with the help of special root canal instruments. The walls of the canals are prepared with the help of files and reamers (RCT instruments). The canals are cleaned and irrigated with medicaments to make it free from debris. It may take two to three sittings with the dentist to make the canal dry and totally free from infection. The front teeth usually have only one canal while the back teeth have 2 to 4 canals. The canals are filled with special root canal sealants and filling materials. The decayed portion of the tooth is filled with a permanent filling material. Later a crown is made over the tooth to protect the tooth from breaking off.

Sometimes the infection may spread to the tip of the root and cause accumulation of pus at the root apex. The infection may break open the bone wall and drain out into the oral cavity, resulting in an abscess (gumboil). In such cases the gums may have to be repaired by doing a minor surgery to remove the infection at the root tip. This is referred to as Apecectomy. In six to eight weeks the tip of the root heals and the tooth becomes as good as a normal tooth.