Root canals involve the use of filling materials to make sure your tooth is strong and secure after treatments are over. If you want to know more about this before your root canal appointment, keep reading to find out more.

Gutta Percha

During a root canal, a great deal of tissue is removed from the inside portion of the tooth. The tissue is made up mostly of blood vessels and nerves. With such a rich supply of nutrients, the inner tooth area is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This is where your tooth infection lies, and thus, all of the tissue is removed.

After the removal, the inside of the tooth will be completely empty. Your tooth does not rely on the inner cavity for structural integrity, but if left empty, bacteria can work its way into the open space and multiply. So, a material called gutta percha is placed inside. This is a natural latex polymer that is made from the extract of the percha tree. 

The latex material is molded into a cone shape and the point of the cone is placed down into the root. Dental cement is also utilized to keep the cone securely fastened within the tooth. Sealing cement is layered on top to finish off the inner cavity. If the tooth is narrow or has extremely slim root structures, then sometimes a pre-molded cone cannot be used. A softened latex that can be molded when exposed to heat is used instead.

Resin Filling

Since the gutta percha takes up a good portion of the space inside the tooth, the top opening can often be secured with the assistance of a resin filling. This is the same sort of filling material used when decay is released from a tooth. However, the resin must be added in a way that the tooth is fully sealed. This prevents a leaky filling and the possibility of a newly formed bacterial infection. 

Typically, the resin is layered to ensure sealing and it is hardened in between each layer. And, when the filling is completed, your dentist may use x-ray imagery to ensure that there are no unfilled spaces within the tooth. X-rays also must be completed periodically to ensure that the tooth remains in good health afterward. Since your tooth will not have a root, it will be incapable of transmitting pain signals as a sign of distress. So, an x-ray is the only way to tell if there is a significant problem with the tooth.