How does it work?

RCT is often performed over three dental visits. The first visit is where your dentist or endodonist removes the "nerves" (the pulp) that is inside the canals of the tooth. During this visit, you may notice a green rubber sheet over your mouth, a lot of different instruments set up and hear some beeping noises. Don't be alarmed! All of this equipment is to ensure that the patient gets the most successful outcome for their tooth. After cleaning out the tooth and before putting in a temporary filling, the dentist will put some medicine into the tooth to cleanse the root canals and prevent further flare ups. The dentist would generally recommend you to wait at least two weeks before continuing to the next stage. The second stage of RCT involves sealing the canals with a filling material to prevent any more germs from getting into the tooth and infecting it. The dentist will fill it with rubber-like material called gutta percha or GP points. Throughout the first two stages of RCT, the dentist will take a series of x-rays. The x-rays are used to check that the canals have been properly cleaned and sealed, all the way to the tip of the roots. Again, the dentist will recommend you to wait at least two weeks before starting the last stage of RCT. Your dentist will finish the treatment by placing a permanent filling on top of the tooth and depending on the condition of the tooth, some cases may require standard filling or a crown.