Root canal is a dental procedure that is performed to repair a diseased or badly damaged tooth. The root canal procedure entails removing the damaged part of the tooth as soft tissue called the pulp, cleaning it, disinfecting it and then re-filling and sealing the tooth chamber where these have been removed. The procedure can be done to correct some of the common conditions that affect the pulp of your teeth such as deep cavity, trauma or a cracked tooth.
Root canal will relieve the pain from your tooth and also help save your natural teeth when it is diseased or damaged. It is one of the best ways and a long lasting solution to make your teeth healthy once more. The pulp is contained inside the enamel and the dentin. It is a soft tissue that has the blood vessels, connective tissue and nerves which are crucial in the growth of the root teeth during its formative stages. Once the tooth is fully developed, it can easily survive without the pulp since it can draw on the tissues around it for nourishment.
Thanks to advances in treatment, root canal is no longer painful and uncomfortable. It is a fairly comfortable and stress-free procedure that can be done with at least two dentist’s visits.
When would you need a root canal treatment?
A root canal treatment is normally required whenever there is an infection deep inside the tooth. The soft tissue, the pulp, can be infected due to an injury or for a cavity that goes untreated for an extended period of time. Severe infections may prompt the removal of the tooth but in some cases, the dentist may recommend a root canal treatment.
Root Canal Treatment: Step-by-Step Procedure
The treatment of a root canal usually involves two or more visits to the dentist. The steps involved include the following:
• The dentist will use a needle in order to administer a local anesthesia that will numb the affected tooth. After the numbing, a dental dam will be used in isolating the tooth and keeping it both clean and dry during the root canal treatment.
• The dentist will use a variety of small tools such a tiny drill to access the inner part of your tooth. An opening will be created in the top part of the tooth. The dentist will then file away the diseased or damaged pulp from inside the affected tooth. The dentist will also use the file in shaping the inner tooth chamber and root. They might also use some water to wash away the remaining pulp. In order to get rid of the remaining bacteria, the dentist will apply an antimicrobial solution in the chamber. This will also reduce the risk of a re-infection.
• After the chamber has been well cleaned and dried, it will be filled with a rubber-like material that is known as gutta percha. The opening to the tooth chamber is then sealed using a temporary filling.
• After a few weeks, the root canal treatment will be completed with the installation of a permanent dental crown or any other type of restoration technique. The dentist may also use a tiny supporting post inside the root chamber so as to ensure that the restoration or permanent crown added on your tooth is stable.
Post Root Canal Procedure
Once the procedure has been done, make sure that you take good care of your teeth and gums. An additional visit may also be required for an X-ray on the affected tooth so as to ascertain that all signs of infection have been done with. If well taken care of, the root canal will stay healthy for a lifetime.