Root canal treatment, also called endodontic treatment, consists of removing the vital part of the tooth, disinfecting the entire internal root canal system of the tooth, widening the main channels and filling them with a sealing material to seal them.
Following root canal treatment, it is recommended to restore the tooth to protect it. Ideally, the tooth will receive a complete crown with or without pivots. It is also possible, but less recommended, to place an amalgam or composite resin restoration, as these materials are not resistant enough to fractures.
The teeth have a variable number of main channels. Here is the number of channels that teeth usually have:
- Central incisors: 1 canal;
- Lateral incisors: 1 canal;
- Canines (eye tooth): 1 canal;
- First premolars: 1 or 2 canals (often two);
- Second premolars: 1 or 2 canals (often one);
- First molars: 3 or 4 canals (often 4, especially those at the top);
- Second molars: 3 or 4 canals (often 3);
- Third molars, or wisdom teeth: 3 canals (rarely treated endodontically).
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