Root canal treatment is carried out in order to save a tooth that is severely decayed, or has become infected. The nerve and pulp are removed, and then the area inside the tooth cleaned and sealed. If this treatment is not carried out, then the tissue around the tooth becomes infected, with the possible development of an abscess.
The term "root canal" describes the natural cavity in the center of the tooth, with the pulp, or pulp chamber is the soft area inside the tooth. The tooth's root is also situated inside, and since its only function is to sense hot and cold, is not essential to the health of the tooth. In other words, complete removal of the nerve during treatment, will not interfere with the normal functioning of the tooth.
How will I know if I need the procedure?
Although some people have no symptoms at all, the following are signs that you might need a root canal cape girardeau:
• Excessive toothache when any pressure is applied to the tooth, or when you are chewing
• Continued sensitivity or pain to heat and cold even when they have been removed
• When the tooth darkens or becomes discoloured
• When the surrounding gums become swollen and tender
• When a pimple on the gum keeps recurring
What is involved in a basic root canal procedure?
More than one visit is usually needed for a root treatment. A dentist can perform the procedure, or a dentist called an endodontist, who specializes in the diagnosis, causes, prevention, as well as the treatment injuries or diseases of the dental pulp or nerves of human teeth. As to which type of dentist performs the treatment, depends to a certain degree on how difficult the procedure is in your case, as well as whether the dentist is comfortable working on your particular problem.
First, an x-ray will be taken of your tooth to see the shape of the root canals, and also to establish whether there is an infection in the bone surrounding the tooth. The dentist or endodontist will then use a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. Since the nerve is dead, anesthesia might not be required, but the majority of dentists will still use anesthetic to deaden the area, in order to
help the patient to relax completely.
The dentist will then put a rubber dam/sheet of rubber around the affected tooth, which will keep the area dry and saliva-free during the procedure. For more details check out: http://www.fox-familydental.com/
A hole will then be drilled into the tooth to allow the dentist to gain access to the inside, and the pulp, together with the decayed nerve tissue, debris, and bacteria is then removed. Special files are used in this cleaning procedure, with a few of them, each having increasing diameters, being used to access the hole and work down into full depth of the tooth in order to scrape and scrub the sides of the cavity. Plain water or sodium hypchlorite is used from time to time to flush the debris from the hole, and when thoroughly cleaned, is sealed up again.