For most, just the utterance of the name makes us cringe. Painful as they can be at times, the root canal is a necessary treatment to some common dental problems. If performed properly, and if the crown is placed properly, the experience need not be a bad one.
The Procedure
This procedure is used for the treatment of the soft center of the tooth, known as the pulp, which contains the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues. This center can become inflamed, infected or “dead”. The pulp chamber, which contains the pulp, is hollow and continues down into canals that extend through the roots of the teeth into the surrounding bone. Some roots may have more than one canal, but all have at least one.
Root Canal Treatment (RCT) or Endodontic Treatment are the terms used to describe procedures that treat the nerve of the tooth. Endodontics is a dental specialty that treats the tooth pulp and tissues surrounding the root. Endodontists have had multiple years of additional training after dental school to focus on RCT. General dentists are qualified to perform the treatments. However in some instances, such as when the case is more complicated or it is being done for a second time, the specialist is the better choice.
During the treatment, the pulp of the tooth is removed, after the patient is numbed with a local anesthetic. The canals and pulp chamber of the tooth are filled and sealed to prevent bacteria from entering the root canal. Farmington Hills, MI has provided us some innovations in the area of RCT, including some more gentle approaches. Regardless of the approach, the procedure is frequently followed by restorative work, generally a crown.
Why have it done?
* Pain – Toothaches, headaches caused by persistent severe toothaches, sensitivity to heat and cold, jaw pain.
* Abscess – Pockets of infection within a tooth.
* Deep Cavities – Decay that extends deep into the tooth and reaches the pulp.
* Trauma – If a tooth is hit with great force, the nerve can be severed at the end of the root and die.
* Fracture – If a tooth fractures down to the pulp, or if enough of the tooth is broken to require a post be placed down into the tooth to aid in restoration.
* Resorption – A condition where the tooth structure dissolves away as a reaction to several different stimuli.
* Repeated Dental Procedures – The stress of repeated dental procedures may cause the pulp to become inflamed. Depending on the degree of damage to the tooth, the treatment may save a tooth that in the past would have been extracted.
Pain
If done correctly, your pain after a root canal will be minimal, but there will be some initial discomfort following the procedure. Considering that extreme pain is often the initial reason for seeking out treatment, the mild discomfort after the fact can be a relief in comparison to the pain prior. The pain can most often be treated with over the counter medication, such as ibuprofen.
Dwoskin & Owens Cosmetic & Family Dentistry utilizes the latest techniques and equipment to deliver the most effective results, while keeping our procedures as pain-free as possible. Whether you’re due for a routine exam, need gum disease treatment, or restorative work please visit us at website.
