Root canal therapy continues to be one of the most dreaded of dental procedures. This fear is mostly based on patients' experience from decades ago. The procedure has evolved dramatically since then.
Therapy is focused on the pulp chamber of a tooth. This chamber is located in the center of the tooth, and extends toward the tip via the root canal. Different types of teeth have varying numbers of canals. For example, a cuspid might have two while an incisor will usually have only one.
In this article, you'll learn why root canals are performed, and the step-by-step process by which dentists treat a tooth's pulp chamber and canal. We'll also explain why treatment occasionally fails, and address whether the procedure's reputation for pain is well-deserved.
Why Root Canals Are Performed
The pulp chamber and canal are filled with nerve tissue that supplies nutrients to the tooth. These nutrients help ensure the tooth remains healthy and strong. They also prevent the enamel from being breached, and the nerve tissue from becoming exposed. This helps to slow the advance of decay.
Root canal therapy (RCT) is necessary when the tissue within the pulp chamber or canal suffers infection or injury. An example is decay, which can penetrate the enamel and reach the underlying nerve. If this problem isn't resolved, the pulp tissue will eventually become infected. In some cases, abscesses can form.
Another problem that warrants treatment is when the tooth suffers some form of trauma. For instance, it becomes chipped or broken, exposing the nerve. In order to save the tooth, the pulp tissue must be excavated.
Overview Of Root Canal Therapy
RCT may require several sessions. If the tooth is infected, dentists will typically ask their patients to take antibiotics prior to the procedure. Once an anesthetic has been delivered and x-rays have been taken, the dentist will position a rubber dam in the patient's mouth. The dam prevents the tooth from being exposed to saliva, which contains bacteria.
The next step involves drilling through the enamel into the canal. This is known as creating an access cavity to reach the diseased nerve. Once the canal has been accessed, the dentist will clean it out using several files. After the pulp tissue have been removed, the tooth is irrigated to eliminate residual debris.
A filling material is used to fill the excavated canal. One of the most common materials used today is called gutta percha. After the canal has been filled, a special paste is used to seal it. Dentists usually recommend that patients have a crown placed on the end of the newly-sealed tooth to prevent it from cracking.
Reasons Therapy Mail Fail
There are times when the patient must have a subsequent root canal performed following the initial treatment. This becomes necessary when bacteria somehow gains access to the filled and sealed canal. The patient will experience pain, which may occur immediately or years down the road.
Bacteria can gain entry into the sealed canal for a number of reasons. First, the tooth might develop a crack. Second, the canal may branch off into small canals that are missed by the dentist. Third, the seal that was applied over the canal during the initial treatment may become compromised over time, allowing bacteria to enter.
In many cases, the tooth's canal and pulp chamber can be retreated and refilled. Sometimes, however, the tooth must be extracted.
Is The Reputation For Pain Well-Deserved?
Long ago, root canal therapy involved a degree of pain. This was due, in part, to the fact that the procedure was often done in cases that didn't warrant therapy. Or, when RCT was deemed necessary, it was performed without anesthetic.
In many cases, by the time a root canal is performed, the nerve tissue has already died. Thus, drilling into it does not cause pain. Despite this, your dentist will provide an anesthetic to numb the tooth to ensure the procedure progresses as smoothly as possible.
Therapy is focused on the pulp chamber of a tooth. This chamber is located in the center of the tooth, and extends toward the tip via the root canal. Different types of teeth have varying numbers of canals. For example, a cuspid might have two while an incisor will usually have only one.
In this article, you'll learn why root canals are performed, and the step-by-step process by which dentists treat a tooth's pulp chamber and canal. We'll also explain why treatment occasionally fails, and address whether the procedure's reputation for pain is well-deserved.
Why Root Canals Are Performed
The pulp chamber and canal are filled with nerve tissue that supplies nutrients to the tooth. These nutrients help ensure the tooth remains healthy and strong. They also prevent the enamel from being breached, and the nerve tissue from becoming exposed. This helps to slow the advance of decay.
Root canal therapy (RCT) is necessary when the tissue within the pulp chamber or canal suffers infection or injury. An example is decay, which can penetrate the enamel and reach the underlying nerve. If this problem isn't resolved, the pulp tissue will eventually become infected. In some cases, abscesses can form.
Another problem that warrants treatment is when the tooth suffers some form of trauma. For instance, it becomes chipped or broken, exposing the nerve. In order to save the tooth, the pulp tissue must be excavated.
Overview Of Root Canal Therapy
RCT may require several sessions. If the tooth is infected, dentists will typically ask their patients to take antibiotics prior to the procedure. Once an anesthetic has been delivered and x-rays have been taken, the dentist will position a rubber dam in the patient's mouth. The dam prevents the tooth from being exposed to saliva, which contains bacteria.
The next step involves drilling through the enamel into the canal. This is known as creating an access cavity to reach the diseased nerve. Once the canal has been accessed, the dentist will clean it out using several files. After the pulp tissue have been removed, the tooth is irrigated to eliminate residual debris.
A filling material is used to fill the excavated canal. One of the most common materials used today is called gutta percha. After the canal has been filled, a special paste is used to seal it. Dentists usually recommend that patients have a crown placed on the end of the newly-sealed tooth to prevent it from cracking.
Reasons Therapy Mail Fail
There are times when the patient must have a subsequent root canal performed following the initial treatment. This becomes necessary when bacteria somehow gains access to the filled and sealed canal. The patient will experience pain, which may occur immediately or years down the road.
Bacteria can gain entry into the sealed canal for a number of reasons. First, the tooth might develop a crack. Second, the canal may branch off into small canals that are missed by the dentist. Third, the seal that was applied over the canal during the initial treatment may become compromised over time, allowing bacteria to enter.
In many cases, the tooth's canal and pulp chamber can be retreated and refilled. Sometimes, however, the tooth must be extracted.
Is The Reputation For Pain Well-Deserved?
Long ago, root canal therapy involved a degree of pain. This was due, in part, to the fact that the procedure was often done in cases that didn't warrant therapy. Or, when RCT was deemed necessary, it was performed without anesthetic.
In many cases, by the time a root canal is performed, the nerve tissue has already died. Thus, drilling into it does not cause pain. Despite this, your dentist will provide an anesthetic to numb the tooth to ensure the procedure progresses as smoothly as possible.
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Find out more about Raleigh Root Canals from your Raleigh Dentist at www.thomasecookedds.com
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