subject: What to Know about Root Canals [print this page] What to Know about Root Canals What to Know about Root Canals
The dental specialty that addresses problems with the internal parts of your tooth is endodontics. The word endo means inside and dont means tooth. When the inside parts of the tooth become infected or inflamed, a general or cosmetic dentist is able to treat it with endodontic therapy, commonly known as a root canal. The root canals are actually the interior passage through which blood vessels and nerves pass, also called to tooth pulp. For more on what to know about root canals, you should consult your dentist.
Although the nerves and blood vessels making up the tooth pulp are not required for the tooth once it is fully grown, it can still become infected and cause problems. To prevent further complications and save the tooth, the tooth pulp is removed. The tooth pulp may become infected due to a breach in the integrity of the tooth. Dental caries or tooth decay is the most common reason the tooth root becomes infected. Trauma, resulting in a cracked or broken tooth may also expose the root canals to infectious bacteria.
Because it is often difficult to tell if there is a problem, determining the need for endodontic therapy must be made by your dentist using x-rays. In many cases, there is no pain associated with the infected nerves. Some people do experience some of the following symptoms that lead them to seek dental assistance:
Pain
Sensitivity to cold and hot liquids
Swelling of the gums
A pimple on the gums near the roots
Root canals are one of the most commonly feared dental procedures, but only by those who have never had the procedure done themselves. With modern anesthesia and other relaxation techniques, a root canal procedure is not much different than getting a filling.
When you undergo a root canal procedure, the first thing the dentist will do is remove the decay and gain access to the root canal chamber. The tooth pulp is then extracted and replaced with a special compound that completely fills and seals the root canal. The tip of the tooth root is also removed to prevent the spread of infection into the jawbone. In many case, the dentist will prescribe some antibiotics to kill off the infection and prevent its spread. A temporary crown may be put in place until the permanent porcelain crown is fabricated.
Since the tooth is no longer attached to any blood supply, the tooth may over time become more brittle. In order to strengthen the tooth, a porcelain crown is placed over the top to ensure the tooth can stand the rigors of years of use. The dentist may prescribe pain medication if the pain of the procedure is not controlled well by over the counter pain pills.
The ultimate goal of a root canal is to preserve the function of the tooth and eliminate the environment where bacteria thrive. After suffering from the pain that is often associated with the infections requiring a root canal procedure, the relief from pain will make the process worth any pain you may experience during the procedure.
