Root
Canal Explained
"It's Not As Bad As You May Think"
What is root canal treatment?
Your dentist does root canal treatment to treat problems with the tooth's
delicate core (dental pulp). In the past, teeth with diseased or injured
pulps were simply removed. Today, root canal treatment has given dentists
a safe and effective new way of saving teeth.
What does treatment involve?
Treatment often involves one, and up to three separate visits to the dentist.
While being treated, your dentist removes the diseased pulp. The pulp
chamber and "root canal" of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed.
Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:
- First, an opening
is made through the crown of your tooth into the pulp chamber.
- The pulp is removed
& the root canal is cleaned and shaped to a fillable form. The
pulp is removed, root canals are cleaned & shaped.
- Medications can
be put into the pulp chamber and root canal to assist in ridding germs
and infection.
- A temporary filling
is placed in the opening if the crown to protect the tooth until your
next dental visit. In some cases you may be given medicine to control
any infection that spread beyond the tooth. The pulp chamber and root
canal are temporarily filled & sealed.
- The temporary
filling is removed and the pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned
& filled.
- For the final
step, a porcelain or gold crown is placed over the tooth. The crown
of the tooth is restored.
What is dental
pulp?
The pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and
connective tissue. It is found within the tooth and reaches from the
crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of your jaws.
What happens if the pulp gets injured?
Should the pulp become diseased or injured and can't repair itself,
it dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a
deep cavity. Both of these problems let germs (bacteria) enter the pulp.
These germs cause infection inside the tooth. Left without treatment,
pus collects at the root tip, in the jawbone, creating a "pus-pocket"
known as an abscess. An abscess causes damage to the bone around your
teeth.
Why does the pulp need to be removed?
If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling will result.
Certain byproducts of the infection can even injure your jaw bones.
Without treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.
How long will my restored tooth last?
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, but only if you continue
to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups with your
dentist are also necessary. As long as the roots of a treated tooth
are nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will remain healthy.
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