Root canal therapy offers an alternative treatment option to extraction for patients who have a badly broken or infected tooth. Root canal therapy” means cleaning the central canal of the tooth root. A few decades ago, root canals were often painful. With advances in dentistry and local anesthesia techniques, the vast majority of people experience little to no pain during root canal procedures. In fact, the process of letting a decayed tooth go often causes more pain. Root canal treatment saves the patient from various treatment procedures such as implant, porcelain or removable denture restoration after the affected tooth has been extracted. Teeth have a soft inner core called the pulp. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth – the visible part of the tooth in the mouth – to the tip of the tooth root in the jawbone. The pulp is made up of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When a tooth splits or has a large cavity, bacteria have a chance to infect the pulp. If left untreated, the bacteria and decayed material can lead to severe infection or even tooth abscesses, and then pulp necrosis, bone destruction, and tooth loss. Symptoms of this process may include hot and cold tooth sensitivity, swollen gums, toothache, cavities in the tooth, and swelling of the head and neck. Root canal treatment is usually done by an endodontist or general dentist and usually requires one to three visits. First, you will have x-rays taken to determine the extent of the lesion and then receive local anesthesia to control the pain, which can be very intense when the tooth has become abscessed. Next, a rubber bandage will be placed on your tooth to keep it free of your saliva during the treatment. Decayed tooth tissue will be removed and an opening will be opened above the tooth to allow the dentist to access your pulp and use various small instruments to remove the infected pulp. After the infected pulp is removed, the pulp chamber and root canal are cleaned and usually shaped to prepare the canal for subsequent treatment. Before the root canal is permanently filled, the dentist thoroughly disinfects and dries the canal, a process in which the doctor sometimes fills the canal with some medication, and sometimes leaves the cavity open for a few days to allow the infected material in the tooth to drain out. When the infection is no longer confined to the tooth, the dentist will prescribe antibiotics. If the root canal treatment requires multiple visits, the cavity will usually be closed with a temporary filling material to keep the tooth free of contamination. Try to avoid chewing on this tooth until the dental treatment is completely completed. After a thorough cleaning and drying, the root canal inside the tooth is filled. By the time this is done, it is often no longer necessary to anesthetize the tooth. The temporary filling is removed and a mixture of paste and rubber composition for sealing is inserted into the tooth, which is called a root canal filling, or root filling. After the root filling, the tooth is filled again to prevent the root canal from being affected by saliva. The final step in root canal treatment is to restore your tooth again. Because the tooth will usually be a huge filling or the tooth structure has been severely damaged at this point, precautions need to be made for possible future damage and to restore the tooth to its normal function. A common practice is to have a porcelain crown – a simulated artificial tooth. The crown is usually made of ceramic or ceramic and metal, and it can be made to match the color of your other teeth. Sometimes the defect is so large that a metal post must also be placed inside the root canal to support the tooth and crown. There are other restorative options that you can consult your dentist about. After root canal treatment, your tooth is fitted with a brand new crown that should function properly and look aesthetically pleasing. This restored tooth is also one that can stay with you for the rest of your life if you maintain good oral hygiene. In the first few days after the root canal treatment, it is possible that the patient may feel some discomfort, and over-the-counter pain medication should be sufficient to relieve this discomfort. If the pain continues to persist, you should definitely see your dentist for a review. Root canal treatment is basically uncomfortable if done under local anesthesia; dental x-rays may need to be taken several times during the treatment process, as the radiation dose from current x-ray equipment is extremely low and will not cause adverse effects on the body; root canal treatment may require several visits, and there may be some discomfort during the visit, most of which do not require medication or can be taken over-the-counter pain medication; pre-crown stakes are now also available in non-metal fiber stakes are now available.