What Is A Root Canal?
A Root Canal is a dental procedure that involves removing the pulp, the soft center of the tooth. The pulp is made up of nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels that help the tooth grow.
A root canal is a treatment used to heal or protect teeth that are badly decayed or infected. The nerve and pulp of a tooth can become infected due to irritation, swelling, and deep caries; Repeated dental procedures on a tooth; Or large stuffing, a crack, or a chip in the tooth. It can also be caused by trauma to the face.
During the root canal process, the nerve and pulp of the tooth are removed and the inside is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and an abscess may occur.
After the tooth is removed from the gums of the teeth, the nerve of the teeth is not considered important for health and function. Its only function is sensory – the sensation of hot or cold. The absence of nerve does not affect the way your teeth work.
Root canal procedures have a reputation for causing pain. But the process is no more painful than filling itself.
When Is A Root Canal Needed?
A Root Canal is performed when the soft inner part of a tooth, known as the pulp, is injured or becomes inflamed or infected.
The Crown Of The Tooth – the part you can see above your gums – can remain intact even if the pulp is dead. Removing injured or infected pulp is the best way to preserve the structure of the tooth.
Common Causes Of Pulp Damage Include:
- Deep decay due to an untreated cavity
- Multiple dental procedures on a single tooth
- Crack in a chip or tooth
- Tooth injury (You can injure a tooth if it is hurt in the mouth if there is no injury to the tooth, the pulp may still be damaged)
The most common symptoms of the damaged pulp include pain in your teeth, and swelling, and heat sensation in your gums. Your dentist will examine the painful tooth and take an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis. If you think you need a root canal, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist.
Root Canal Procedure
A dentist or endodontist may demonstrate a root canal. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the causes and diseases of dental pulp or dental nerve diseases. If your root canal may be more difficult, your general dentist may suggest seeing an endodontist.
The Process Will Follow These Steps:
Your dentist will take an X-ray to see the size of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. They will use local anesthesia to numb the area near the tooth. You may not need anesthesia after the nerve is dead, but most dentists still anesthetize the area to make you feel more relaxed.
To keep the area dry and free of saliva during treatment, your dentist will place a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) around the tooth.
The next step is drilling access into the tooth. The pulp, bacteria, and decaying nerve tissue are removed from the tooth. The area is cleaned using a series of root canal files. They are placed in access holes and cut down the entire length of the tooth to scrape and clean the edges of the root canal. As the work is done, water or sodium hypochlorite will be sprayed in the area to remove debris.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. Some dentists prefer to wait a week before sealing teeth. For example, if an infection occurs, your dentist may put medicine inside the tooth to clean it. Others can be chosen to seal the tooth on the same day it is cleaned. If the root canal is not done on the same day, a temporary filling is placed in the outer hole in the tooth to keep saliva and food out between appointments.
At the next appointment, a sealing paste and a rubber compound, called gutta perch, are placed in the root canal to fill the inner part of the tooth. A filler will be inserted to close the access hole created at the beginning of the treatment.
The final phase may include the restoration of the tooth. A tooth that needs a root canal is a large filling or extensive caries or other weakness. Because of this, you may need a crown, crown, and post or other restoration to protect it, prevent it from breaking, and restore it to full function. Your dentist will discuss the need for any additional dental work with you.
Root Canal Recovery
After the root canal, your mouth will become numb for a few hours. Most people can go back to work, school, or other activities. You may want to wait until you are numb before eating.