subject: Root Canal Therapy- No Longer A Nightmare [print this page] If most people are told they have to get a root canal, they automatically begin to dread their appointment. But with advancements in modern dentistry, a root canal procedure is no longer something to fear. Most patients report about the same amount of pain in a root canal as in a normal filling procedure. Any pain you do experience, although minimal, is worth the benefits of removing your infected tooth material. If you don't fix the problem, the infection in your tooth can spread and become extremely painful and problematic.
Why Do You Need A Root Canal Procedure?
A root canal procedure is required when the inner pulp and nerve material of your tooth becomes infected. An infection generally occurs due to severe tooth decay or a crack or chip in your tooth. This infection can lead to an abscessed tooth or further damage to your gums or jaw. If left untreated, your tooth can become extremely painful, making it difficult to eat or speak in some cases. The root canal procedure performed by your dentist will serve to flush out the infected material and stop the infection before it spreads any further.
How Does A Root Canal Procedure Work?
If you are experiencing tooth pain, your dentist will take an X-ray of your tooth to see what is inside and examine where the infection is. After this, he or she will apply local anesthetic to the affected area to ensure you are as comfortable as possible during the procedure. Next your dentist will drill a hole into your tooth to get access to the infected inner tooth material. He or she will then remove all of the infected nerve and pulp material on the inside of your tooth. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out, your dentist will need to seal it. Your dentist will fill the empty center of your tooth with a sealer paste to solidify it and prevent future infections. Finally, he or she will insert a filling into the access hole that was drilled at the beginning of the procedure. In some cases, your dentist must repair or reinstall a restoration if the restoration contributed to the original infection of the inner tooth.
Are There Any Risks To The Procedure?
Although there is a negative stigma attached to the procedure, root canals today have more than a 95% success rate. Most teeth that are fixed by root canal procedure will last for the rest of a patient's life. In the infrequent case that the operation is not successful, it is generally due to an unseen crack or a defective restoration. In these rare cases, a repeat procedure can sometimes be performed, but in other cases the tooth will need to be extracted.
To learn more about root canal procedures or to schedule an appointment, contact your Southfield dentist today.
