This is the most common treatment done in our referral dental practice. Performed mostly for deep caries lesions in people, but mostly for fractured teeth in animals. Any cause of tooth death is an indication for this procedure.

INDICATIONS:
     Any cause of tooth death

• Fractured (broken) teeth
  Deep Cavities
  Trauma to tooth that causes death, but without fracture of tooth
  Jaw fractures that damages blood supply to tooth.
• Severely worn teeth

Technique
The patient is sedated and the tooth is explored to determine whether caries or fracture extends into pulp chamber.

A dental radiograph is exposed to determine whether the tooth is mature enough to undergo this form of therapy. Also to make sure that there is no root fractures or other dental disease that would decrease the prognosis for the procedure.

Depending on the tooth involved and type of fracture, access to the root canal made be made through the fracture site or another site to facilitate cleaning and filling the canal.

Using endodontic files, the diseased nerves, blood vessels and tooth structure is removed from the canal. The canal is lavaged (rinsed) with an antibacterial solution. When the canal is cleaned, it is dried with sterile, absorbent paper points (rolled up pieces of paper.

The root canal is filled (obturated) to avoid the tooth becoming re-infected.

A post-operative radiograph is exposed to ensure proper fill of the canal.

The access hole and fracture site are filled.

The tooth is now as strong as it will ever be, and no restrictions are placed on eating after the post- anesthetic period is over (usually 12 hours).
Recheck radiographs are recommended at 6 months and then every year or so.
If extra strength or size is desired, crown therapy can be performed.