Root Canal

A “root canal” is actually the term used to describe the therapy for treatment of a tooth that needs to be done to save an infected tooth.  An infection in the human body can usually be cleared up with antibiotics, but sometimes further cleaning and irrigation of the area is needed.  A tooth is different.  Antibiotics alone will never clear up a tooth infection, the inside of the tooth needs to be cleansed and irrigated.

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, that 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 afterward, but your dentist may prescribe medication. The procedure will also relieve you from the pain caused by the infection allowing you to enjoy all the foods you love without any pain from heat, cold, or bitingtoo hard. If you are experiencing pain consult your dentist today.