Filling & Root Canal

What is a Filling?

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

Root Canal

A root canal is a narrow passage in a root through which the nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth. They travel from the end of the root through the root canal on their way to the pulp chamber at the centre of the tooth.

The pulp chamber is the space in the crown of a tooth, which houses the nerves and blood vessels (the pulp). They have entered the tooth through the root canals. The pulp chamber is like a nerve and blood vessel terminus, where their inward journey ends and the return journey back to the end of the root begins. The nerves send pain signals to the brain in response to the presence of decay or injury. The blood vessels supply the nutritional needs of the tooth.

Treatment Procedures:

• The first step is to open the pulp chamber to allow access to the root canals.
• Pus accumulates in the pulp chamber and in the root canals when an infection is severe.
• It may be necessary to leave the tooth open so that the pus can drain out.
• When the symptoms are relieved, the root canal treatment can be continued.
• The root canal and pulp chamber are reshaped and cleaned out.
• The now empty canal and pulp chamber are filled and sealed with special materials.