Root canal treatment in Polokwane

Root canal treatment is a procedure aimed at preserving a tooth when the soft tissue inside it — the pulp — has become inflamed or infected. The pulp sits in the centre of the tooth and extends down through the roots. When it is damaged, by deep decay, a crack, or trauma, the tooth can become painful and the problem will not resolve on its own.

The treatment works by removing the affected pulp, cleaning and shaping the space inside the root, and sealing it so that the tooth can be kept rather than removed. It is a tooth-preserving option: the aim is to keep the natural tooth in function where extracting it would otherwise be the alternative. Our practice has a special interest in endodontics, the branch of dentistry this treatment belongs to.

Whether root canal treatment is suitable is decided through an assessment: a dentist examines the tooth, takes X-rays to see the roots and the surrounding bone, and judges whether the tooth is worth preserving and whether the pulp is the source of the problem. Not every painful tooth needs root canal treatment, and not every damaged tooth is suitable for it.

The planning considers the tooth's structure, how much sound tissue remains to support a later restoration, and whether the roots can be adequately cleaned. Some teeth have more complex root anatomy than others, which affects the approach. The assessment is what determines whether preserving the tooth is the right course or whether another option — including removal — is more appropriate.

A tooth that has had root canal treatment often needs a restoration afterwards to protect it and restore its shape and function. Because the tooth no longer has a living pulp, it can become more brittle over time, and a crown is often discussed to cover and protect it. What is suitable depends on how much tooth structure remains and how the tooth meets the opposing teeth when you bite.

The restoration is part of the overall plan, not a separate afterthought. A dentist can explain what will be needed once the tooth has been assessed and treated, and how the timing of the restoration fits with settling of the root canal. Read more about crowns on the crowns page.

Our practice has a special interest in endodontics — the discipline that includes root canal treatment — alongside paediatric dentistry. That interest shapes the attention given to preserving teeth where it is sensible to do so.

Where a tooth has previously been root-treated and has developed a new problem, the options — which can include retreatment or other measures — are weighed in the same way, through an assessment of the individual tooth. The right next step depends on what is found rather than a general rule.