Dentistry has certainly changed, but those
two little words, “Root Canal,” can still send a grown man, or woman, running
for the hills, but in reality, a root canal is no more painful than a simple
filling.
According to the American Dental Association,
a root canal is necessary if you have a diseased tooth. Pulp is what is inside
of your tooth and contains blood vessels, nerves, and tissues that can become
infected and even die.
Your dentist will recommend a root canal in
order to save your tooth. The pulp inside your tooth can become damaged because
of large fillings, chips or cracks in the tooth, a trauma to your face, deep
decay or multiple dental procedures in the same tooth.
When the nerve tissue or pulp inside your
tooth becomes damaged, it will break down allowing dangerous bacteria to
multiply inside of your tooth. Decayed debris along with bacteria will
eventually cause a dangerous infection that could lead to an abscess. An
abscess is a pocket that is filled with pus that forms at the bottom of your
tooth. If you have an abscessed tooth, it is imperative that you call your dentist as quickly as possible as the infection can spread throughout your body
and even to your brain. In addition to the infection and a possible abscess, a
root canal can also cause swelling in your head, neck, or face and bone loss.
If your dentist determines that a root canal
is necessary, x-rays will be taken to see if there is any infection around the
bone before numbing the area with a local anesthetic. Although the nerve is
dead, and won’t cause you any pain, most dentists will administer it anyway to
make you feel more at ease.
To keep the area dry during the root canal,
your dentist will place a sheet of rubber, called a rubber dam, around your
tooth before drilling a hole into your tooth so that the decayed pulp tissue,
including the nerves and debris can be removed.
Once removed your dentist will clean out the
area with root canal files working down the entire length of your tooth to
scrub and scrape the sides of your root canals. Water will be used from time to
time during the root canal procedure to flush out the bacteria and debris.
After the tooth has been cleaned your dentist
will seal it if the remaining infected tissue has healed. If a temporary
filling is necessary, you may also be given antibiotics to help clear the
infection.
Depending on how much decay or damage has
been done to your tooth, your dentist may also decide to place a crown to
protect your tooth against further damage.
If you believe you have
an abscess or have been dealing with a toothache for far too long, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.
