Root canal

A root canal is by far the most common sort of procedure performed by endodontists, who are specialists in this field of dentistry. The Root canal in your mouth are hollow channels which reach right from the bottom of the tooth's roots all the way up to the central chamber of the tooth. Your dentist or a specialist endodontist may be able to spot symptoms of a problem with your root canal while performing an oral examination so it's always important to have regular check ups. The two key symptoms which can often indicate a problem with the root canal is a deep cavity accompanied by tooth pain. Your dentist/endodontist will often take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage and find out its vicinity to the nerve located within the pulp chamber. In many cases when a cavity is located near the pulp, the pulp has already become infected and it'll be necessary to perform a root canal. A root canal treatment will help to eradicate the pain and remove all traces of infected tissue. If left untreated, root canal problems can often cause patients to lose the tooth.

The Procedure

The root canal is usually performed under local anesthetics, meaning you will be unconscious throughout. In rare cases if the patient is extremely anxious it may be done under sedation or a general anesthetic. The first stage of the treatment is to thoroughly clean the damaged parts of your tooth. Once your dentist has exposed the pulp chamber, more anesthetic may be applied directly onto the tooth's nerve to prevent any more discomfort and pain. The next stage is to remove the affected tissue located in the pulp chamber and eliminate any nerve tissue which remains in the root canals. Once everything has been cleaned and all the affected tissue is gone your root canal will be widened slightly and your pulp chamber straightened which will help prepare it to be filled. The inside of the tooth will then be thoroughly disinfected before being filled with the special material, gutta-percha. This rubber-like material will fill the tooth and cotton is pushed tightly into the pulp chamber.

A temporary filling will then be used to close over the opening, this will be removed in your next visit. During your proceeding visit your dentist will then take the temporary filling away and fills up the pulp chamber. Your tooth will then be repaired with a crown or filling and your dentist will make some checks for any potential complications like infections.

Aftercare

Although root canals have a reputation as a painful procedure, eliminating the pulp tissue and the nerve of the affected tooth will actually eliminate the pain. Once the procedure is complete the tooth will be strong and painless. Your affected tooth should be treated just the same as your natural teeth and so it's important to maintain a decent level of oral hygiene to care for it. Most dentists will recommend cleaning your teeth at least twice a day and cutting sugary foods and drinks to a minimum.