Root canals are valuable dental procedures used to treat and preserve teeth with badly infected roots. The pulp is the “live” portion of the tooth that extends into the root and contains nerve tissue and blood vessels. When it becomes infected, patients can experience pain, swelling, and even total tooth loss unless treated. Root canals remove the damaged parts of the tooth and infected root. In some cases, an antibiotic is prescribed to help prevent further infection within the tooth and bone. Depending on the tooth- a crown or large filling may be needed to protect the tooth from further damage and fracture.
Many patients associate root canals with pain and discomfort.
But local anesthetics and advancements in modern dentistry have made root canals highly tolerable procedures that are often no less comfortable than getting a standard filling. Upon completion, a restored tooth that has undergone a root canal will blend in with surrounding teeth – virtually undetectable to the average eye. Most root canal procedures are successful, and most treatments last many years or even a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a candidate for a root canal?
You could be a candidate for a root canal if decay or damage has allowed bacteria to infect the pulp inside your tooth. A root canal could also be the right treatment for you if you prefer to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible instead of extracting both the healthy and diseased portions of your tooth. For more information about root canals and whether they are right for you, schedule a dental exam and consultation at your earliest convenience.
What should I expect during my root canal treatment?
If you decide to undergo a root canal, the first step in your procedure will involve a local anesthetic. Once your tooth root is numb, the diseased portion of your tooth pulp will be removed and cleaned. The tooth will then be sealed and filled before being restored with a crown.
What type of post-treatment care is required after a root canal?
Some patients have no discomfort after root canal treatment and some patients experience some sensitivity- much of it depends on the existing condition of the tooth before the procedure. If the infection was large- it is normal for teeth to become inflamed after a root canal, potentially causing sensitivity for the first several days following treatment. However, normal brushing and flossing habits can be resumed immediately after treatment and restoration is complete.
