What Happens During a Root Canal
A root canal is a procedure for the treatment of a tooth that is severely damaged or infected. The process includes cleaning and repairing the affected tooth, removing the nerves and the pulp, and then sealing the infected tooth. If left untreated, pus will surround the infected tooth, which is much more dangerous. Removing the nerves in the tooth does not affect the day to day activity of a person, because its only function is for sensory – providing sensation for hot and cold. The tooth pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the root canal, needs to be removed in this case because it will break down and may cause bacteria to build up within the tooth. If this happens, it can result in an abscessed tooth, wherein pus will begin to fill the end root of your tooth. Aside from developing an abscess, an infected tooth may also result in a swollen face, neck or cheek. Bone loss at the root of your tooth can also occur. A tooth’s nerve can become damaged, irritated, or infected due to a host of different trauma to the mouth. Signs that you need a root canal may not always be obvious to you. However, these signs should set off your alarm bells.
- Serious tooth pain while chewing
- Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold
- Tooth discoloration
- Swelling of the gums
- Pimple on the gums
A root canal can entail one or two dental visits, and can be done by either a dentist or an endodontist. Endodontists specialize in working with dental pulp and tooth nerves. This naturally includes diagnosis and treatment of disease of tooth nerves. Your choice of dentist will depend on how serious your infection is and the procedure that it requires. Usually, the first step for root canal therapy is an x-ray to see the root of your tooth, and if there is an infection already present. The dentist may or may not give you anesthesia, depending on your tooth’s nerves. A rubber dam will then be placed on your tooth to keep it dry and prevent the build up of saliva during the procedure. The dentist will make a hole in your tooth to remove the bacteria, pulp, nerves and other debris. It will then be cleaned after the procedure and sealed as the final step.
What is a Root Canal?
What is root canal? Probably, this is the worst possible dental torment imaginable when we pay a visit to our dentist. Most of us fear this kind of treatment, and it is arguably one of the most misunderstood treatments in the field of dentistry. A root canal is the procedure of fixing the tooth itself by removing the inside of the tooth, which is the pulp chamber, and filling it up with an artificial filling substantial enough to ensure the tooth is whole once again. Root canals are very necessary if you have a tooth decayed to the point that the tooth is actually rotting in your mouth.
The good thing here is most treatments are now much more comfortable than in the past. With the advanced equipment that most of the dentists have, along with their advanced training, the procedure can likely be finished in less than an hour. Needless to say, it is critical that the dentist cleans the tooth inside during the procedure, otherwise the damage will begin to dissect the nerve and eventually bacteria will develop inside the tooth surrounding the bone. It may lead to a life threatening infection.
Antibiotics will most likely be given to you after the treatment, primarily because the decay inside the tooth can make its way to your body and cause illness. For treating this, the dentist will mostly isolate the affected tooth and disinfect it, separating it from the rest. Once the specific tooth is separated from the rest, the dentist will then drill down to the tooth’s pulp chamber until it reach the root. During this process you may experience numbness on that specific area of your tooth. Don’t worry. Your dentist will provide an anesthetic.
Once the procedure is completed, the anesthesia will wear off, and you are likely to feel some soreness. Pain medicine will be provided to help you get through the day. The dentist will ensure that all of the infections will be taken care of, and a full recovery is the norm.