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Inside the tooth
Enamel and dentin surround a space containing pulp: soft tissue with nerves and blood vessels. Endodontics concerns the tissues inside the tooth.
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE A TOOTH
Endodontics.
Assessment and treatment for the tissues inside your tooth, including root canal treatment. Dr. Marc practices endodontics extensively.
UNDERSTAND YOUR CARE · INTERACTIVE EXPLANATION
What does endodontic treatment care for?
Look inside a tooth, then follow a simplified explanation of root canal treatment. Explore each view at your own pace.
Two-root molar · inside the toothInside the tooth
Read the explanation below. The interactive model loads when you choose.
Drag to rotate. Pinch to zoom. Keyboard: arrow keys rotate and tilt, + / − zoom, Home resets the view.
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When the pulp is affected
Deep decay or other damage may inflame or infect the pulp. Symptoms, examination and appropriate imaging help establish the cause and whether root canal treatment is suitable.
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Cleaning and sealing
During root canal treatment, affected pulp is removed. The inside is cleaned, shaped and filled. The amber shapes represent canal filling; they are not living pulp.
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A restoration completes the plan
The tooth also needs a suitable final restoration. A crown is one possible option. The amount of tooth remaining, its position and clinical findings guide the choice.
LOOK AT A PART
Pulp
Soft tissue inside the tooth.
A QUESTION TO BRING
“Can this tooth be restored, and what would the full care plan involve?”
Discuss your concernsConnect it to your care.
Compare the explanation with the clinic’s approved case photographs further down this page. This model does not reproduce those patients’ anatomy.
See documented endodontic casesA simplified two-root tooth. The coloured area is an explanation of a possible problem, not a way to diagnose pain. Treatment details and anatomy vary.
Patient education sources: ADA · Tooth anatomy · AAE · Root canal treatment explained · ADA · Dental crowns
UNDERSTAND ENDODONTICS
What happens inside
a tooth during treatment?
A short animation shared by the clinic makes the stages easier to picture.
See examples from the clinicA simplified educational animation shared by the clinic. Your treatment steps and final restoration depend on your tooth.
Read the animation, in words
An opening is made in the tooth. Small instruments work inside the root canals. The animation then shows material placed in the canals, a build-up and a crown covering the tooth.
In treatment, the canals are cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed. The animation simplifies these steps; its “placing medication” label does not explain them all. A post is used only when needed to support a restoration, and the final restoration depends on the tooth.
Educational animation, not footage of a patient’s treatment. For a fuller explanation, read the AAE patient guide.
DURING YOUR VISIT
Start with the concern you have.
Describe what has been bothering you and bring your questions. An examination helps guide the discussion about suitable care.
When to ask for an assessment
Persistent tooth pain, deep decay or concern about a previously treated tooth can be reasons to see a dentist. Symptoms alone do not tell you which treatment is needed.
What root canal treatment involves
When appropriate, treatment removes inflamed or infected pulp, cleans and seals the inside of the tooth, and is followed by a suitable restoration. An examination establishes whether this is an option for you.
Understand the whole plan
Ask how many visits may be needed, whether imaging and a final restoration are included in the estimate, and what follow-up is recommended. The details vary by tooth and case.
General patient education. An examination is needed for individual advice.
FROM THE CLINIC / ENDODONTIC CASES
A closer look
at the clinic’s work.
Selected cases shared by Smile Philosophy. Explore the clinical photographs and X-rays at a larger size.
Enlarge imagesCASE 01 · CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION
Root canal treatment after a large restoration
The clinic documents treatment of a tooth with a large existing restoration and infection.
A question to bring to your visit
How do the existing restoration and the remaining tooth affect the treatment plan?
Discuss your concernFrom the clinic’s supplied case collection.
Enlarge imagesCASE 02 · CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION
Revisiting a previously treated tooth
This retreatment case shows a further treatment sequence for a previously treated tooth.
A question to bring to your visit
What needs to be assessed before considering retreatment?
Discuss your concernFrom the clinic’s supplied case collection.
Enlarge imagesCASE 03 · CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION
Assessment of marked tooth sensitivity
The clinic records root canal treatment following assessment for sensitivity in this individual case. Sensitivity alone does not establish the treatment you need.
A question to bring to your visit
What could be causing my sensitivity, and which findings help distinguish the options?
Discuss your concernFrom the clinic’s supplied case collection.
Enlarge imagesCASE 04 · CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION
Root canal treatment and a 3D-printed onlay
A clinic-provided example of root canal treatment for deep decay and infection, followed by a 3D-printed onlay.
A question to bring to your visit
What restoration would suit the amount of healthy tooth structure that remains?
Discuss your concernFrom the clinic’s supplied case collection.
Enlarge imagesCASE 05 · CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION
Root canal treatment for extensive decay
This case brings together clinical photographs and X-rays from treatment for extensive decay and infection.
A question to bring to your visit
What do the photographs and X-rays each contribute to my assessment?
Discuss your concernFrom the clinic’s supplied case collection.
Earlier cases from the clinic
Deep restoration near the nerve
Selected images connect the visible tooth, treatment stages and X-ray documentation.
View the clinic’s original post
Deep decay in a premolar
This clinic-shared sequence helps explain why assessment comes before a treatment plan.
View the clinic’s original post
Root canal and restoration stages
Dental photographs and X-rays record different parts of an individual treatment journey.
From the clinic’s approved case archive.
More work shared by the clinic
Explore the clinic’s crown and bridge cases. Links open the original Facebook posts, or the clinic-provided image where no post is linked.
Root canal treatment with a zirconia crown An endodontic and restorative case.View on FacebookZirconia crown An individual crown restoration.View on Facebook3D-printed bridge and crowns A digitally planned restorative example.View on FacebookAlumina bridge and crowns View the case image supplied by the clinic.View clinic-provided imageZirconia crowns and bridge A multi-tooth restorative case.View on FacebookZirconia bridge (4 units) A four-unit bridge case from the clinic.View on Facebook
Each post describes an individual case. Materials, visits and results depend on your own assessment and treatment plan.
What is endodontics?
Endodontics is the area of dentistry concerned with the soft tissues inside a tooth. Root canal treatment is one type of endodontic treatment.
Does tooth pain always mean I need a root canal?
No. Several dental problems can cause pain. An examination and any appropriate diagnostic records help establish the cause and suitable treatment options.
How much does root canal treatment cost?
The estimate depends on the tooth, its condition, the treatment required and the final restoration. Ask for an individual plan explaining which records, visits, restoration and follow-up are included.
YOUR NEXT STEP CAN BE A CONVERSATION
Bring your questions.
We’ll take it from there.
Tell us what you would like to understand.
We’ll help you plan a visit to the clinic.