Two years back, Celine Isaro developed pain in some of her teeth that it was irritating for her to eat or drink hot or cold food and drinks. She couldn’t stand chewing or biting anything and her gums had started swelling as well. 

She decided to go for a checkup, and considering the state of her teeth, the dentist suggested a root canal procedure to repair her decayed and infected teeth.

Isaro states that the doctor prescribed some antibiotics for her to take and told her to come back on a specified day for the root canal treatment. During the procedure, she was given a local anesthesia to numb the infected tooth and the near gums.

The dentist made an opening in the crown of the tooth to reach the pulp or dental pulp (the innermost layer of your tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels). 

She explains that the pulp was removed, the pulp chamber and root canals were cleaned, disinfected and shaped. The empty canals were then filled, and her teeth sealed, as the doctor took her through the whole process before starting the procedure.

Isaro experienced some sensitivity for some days after the treatment, but when she contacted her doctor, she was informed that her symptoms were normal but was advised to take painkillers. 

After some time, she was happy that she got a solution for her decayed teeth, as she was worried about tooth extraction, but the root canal helped. Although Isaro’s root canal was successful, some root canal procedures are not.

Dr Gilbert Nuwagaba, an Adult and Paediatric Dentistry specialist says that root canal treatment also known as endotherapy, refers to mutilation of the living part (pulp tissue).

Experts say that sometimes bacteria enters the pulp of a tooth and causes an infection. When this occurs, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. During this procedure, the infected pulp is removed and the tooth is sealed to prevent reinfection.

Dr Nuwagaba explains that the dentists would suggest a root canal procedure in case the dental X-rays show that the pulp has been damaged by a bacterial infection. The pulp may become tender, that’s if it's infected by bacteria, which may allow bacteria to multiply and spread.

However, he stresses that symptoms that a root canal has failed may include pain, swollen gums, pus or drainage, tooth discoloration, boil on the gums and sinus problems.

He also carries on that in case a root canal isn’t successful, dentists may suggest teeth removal. The teeth can be extracted and replaced with a dental implant. 

Dr Nuwagaba states that the side effects of root canal procedure treatment may include; post-operative pain, this refers to pain after treatment. The pain can be acute and chronic. 

"Root canal may result in apical infection, which refers to infection about the tip of the root thus culminating into pain. It is usually localised intraorally, but in some cases the apical abscess may spread and result in severe complications or even mortality,” he says. 

Dr Nuwagaba further adds that the procedure may cause ankylosis, a condition where the tooth is normally not directly fused or joined to the bone, however, post root canal treatment teeth tend to fuse with the bone directly. 

Experts say that root canal can lead to problems such as; infection inside or outside of the root canals, accumulation of cholesterol crystals that irritate the tissues, extruded root canal filling causing an immune response, cystic lesion where the root canal is done, and scar tissue healing of the root canal site.