Root Canals
Whenever a tooth's pulp is damaged by decay, a
root canal must be done. Most people live in fear of the root canal but
you must consider the fact that root canals save teeth. If you didn't get
a root canal you'd have to have the tooth pulled. This article will give
you information on what is involved in a root canal.
The Root
A tooth has narrow passageways in the roots.
The passageways are filled with a material called pulp. The pulp serves
the purpose of nourishing teeth during their initial growth phase and then
later it lets us know when a tooth is damaged by causing pain.
When the pulp in the root becomes infected
from a cavity or breakage, it must be removed. It cannot be treated with
simple antibiotics because it is now a haven for bacteria. Your body will
also be unable to deal with the infection because it has no good way to
get white blood cells to the area to fight the infection.
The Root Canal
Prepping The Area
The first step in the process is to thoroughly
numb the area. After your tooth is numb, your dentist will usually place a
rubber dam around the tooth. This helps to keep saliva and bacteria from
contaminating your tooth after it has been cleaned out.
Cleaning Out The Root
The next step in the root canal is cleaning
out the pulp. To do this the dentist first drills a hole in your tooth to
gain access to the roots. The tooth roots can be curved or straight and
your dentist has a difficult job in cleaning them out. This is where
experience comes into play. Since they cannot see inside your roots, they
use specialized instruments, experience and a good sense of touch to clear
them. After they remove all of the pulp, they enlarge the canals and shape
them in preparation for filling.
Filling The Root
The root must now be filled. The goal is to
seal the tooth to prevent bacteria from getting in and infecting the
tooth. This is another area where experience helps. The better the root is
filled, the more successful the root canal. They will typically use a
material called gutta percha. It is a rubber like material that comes in
cones matched to the size of the instrument that the dentist used to clean
out your root.
Sealing The Tooth
After the root is filled, your dentist will
seal off the hole they made with a dental filling or crown depending on
how damaged the tooth was.
In Conclusion
Because of modern anesthesia and dental
techniques root canals are no longer things to be feared. Patients usually
have nothing more than a little tenderness for a few days after the
procedure. Your dentist will normally prescribe a pain killer after the
treatment but you may find that a couple of over the counter pain
relievers is all you need.
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