Root Canal
Root Canal
Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth.
Root canals are probably the most notorious procedure in dentistry and the
most common procedure relating to endodontics. When a tooth becomes infected
it is usually related to the nerves in the root of the tooth. The infected
nerves need to be removed. If left untreated an infection can turn into an
abscess, which is a much more serious problem that includes bone loss in the
jaw.
The area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic to start the
procedure. The dentist will then drill down into the tooth to create an
opening into the canal. They will then be able to remove infected tissue and
clean the canal. After the infection has been removed, the space if filled
with a sealant called gutta percha. It is highly recommended that a tooth
that has undergone a root canal is fitted with a crown. This will improve
the appearance of the tooth, and will also make it much more likely that the
root canal is successful.
"Root canal" has become a scary term for dental patients to hear, but the
benefits of the procedure and advances in dental technology have made it
much less "scary". Local anesthetics and proper pain medication allow the
procedure to be performed with little to no pain in most cases. There may be
some soreness following the procedure, but that is normal for most dental
procedures. Over the counter painkillers are usually enough to relieve any
pain afterwards, but your dentist may prescribe medication. The procedure
will also relieve you from pain caused by the infection allowing you to
enjoy all the foods you love without any pain from heat, cold, or biting too
hard. If you are experiencing pain consult your dentist today.
