Root Canal
What Are Root Canals?
Root canals are a dental procedure in which the infected or damaged pulp inside a tooth is removed to alleviate pain and prevent further infection. The root canal is then cleaned, filled, and sealed to restore the tooth’s health and function.
How Do Root Canals Work?
During a root canal procedure, your dentist numbs the area around the affected tooth and creates a hole to reach the pulp chamber and root canals. The infected or damaged pulp is then removed using specialized instruments. The root canals are thoroughly cleaned and shaped to remove any remaining debris.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Root Canal?
Typically, individuals are best suited for a root canal procedure if they have severe tooth pain or infections caused by decay, trauma, or a cracked tooth. Root canals are recommended when preserving the natural tooth is possible and preferable to extraction.
The Root Canal Procedure?
The procedure involves removing the infected or damaged pulp from inside your tooth. After numbing the area, your dentist creates an access hole, cleans the root canals, and shapes them. The canals are filled with gutta-percha and sealed. Finally, a crown or filling is placed to restore your tooth’s function.
Root Canal Therapy
Created in Treatment
The Root Canal Procedure
Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root.
All teeth have between one and four root canals.
Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the inner chamber of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves and other tissues. When the infection becomes worse, it can begin affecting the roots. A traumatic injury to a tooth can also compromise the pulp, leading to similar problems.
A diseased inner tooth brings a host of problems including pain and sensitivity as the first indications of a problem. However, inside a spreading infection can cause small pockets of pus to develop, which can lead to an abscess.
Root canal therapy is a remarkable treatment with a very high rate of success, and involves removing the diseased tissue, halting the spread of infection and restoring the healthy portion of the tooth. In fact, root canal therapy is designed to save a problem tooth; before the procedure was developed and gained acceptance, the only alternative for treating a diseased tooth was extraction.
Root canal therapy usually entails one to three visits. During the first visit, a small hole is drilled through the top of the tooth and into the inner chamber. Diseased tissue is removed, the inner chamber cleansed and disinfected, and the tiny canals reshaped. The cleansed chamber and canals are filled with an elastic material and medication to prevent infection. If necessary, the drilled hole is temporarily filled until a permanent seal is made with a crown.
Most patients who have root canal experience little or no discomfort or pain, and enjoy a restored tooth that can last almost as long as its healthy original.
