subject: Get To The Root Of Your Toothache With Root Canal Therapy [print this page] Despite all of the misleading myths and misconceptions spread about root canal therapy, it does, in fact, provide an invaluable service - to save severely damaged teeth. Previously, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you would probably need that tooth extracted. With advances in dentistry, a special dental procedure called root canal therapy may help save your tooth without needing an extraction.
Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth and runs through the root like a thread. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies and if you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After your dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it, topped with a crown to help make it stronger. Most of the time, a root canal is a simple procedures, but best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal therapy typically involves from one to three visits. During treatment, your dentist removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and saved. Your tooth can be saved through treatment by:*First, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth.*An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.*The pulp is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped*Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to eliminate germs and prevent infection.*A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between dental visits. *The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.*The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber and root canal(s) are cleaned and filled. *In the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the tooth.*The crown of the tooth is then restored.What is the Pulp?A root canal treatment generally involves the removal and replacement of a tooth's pulp. The pulp is soft tissue containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. It is found in a canal that runs through the center of the hard tissue on the inside of the tooth (the dentin) and extends from the pulp chamber in the crown down through the root canal to the tip of the root in the jawbone. A tooth has only one pulp chamber, but may have more than one root and several root canals. If pulp becomes damaged through injury or disease and cannot repair itself, bacteria and their products can leak into the pulp and cause the pulp to die. If a root canal procedure is not performed, an abscess can form at the tip of the root and cause considerable pain. Even if there is no pain, the bone anchoring the tooth in the jaw can be damaged. Without treatment, the tooth may have to be extracted. Good oral hygiene at home and regular dental visits can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If you take good care of it, the restored tooth could last a lifetime. Contact your dentist in Jackson if you are experiencing tooth pain. Your dentist will examine your tooth and decide what the best treatment process is for bringing your tooth back to health. by: Gen Wright
