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What is a Root Canal? When is a Root Canal Treatment Needed? Root Canal Procedure Endodontics vs Dental Filling Conclusion Frequently Asked Questions

Root Canal

A root canal is the name of the dental procedure that cleans cavities in the pulp and root of the tooth. The teeth have an enamel layer on the outside, the second layer of dentin, and a soft inner core that extends to the root of the jaw. The nucleus contains the dental pulp, which consists of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When decay enters the soft nucleus, the pulp can become inflamed or infected, or even necrotic (dead). A root canal is needed to clean the cavities.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a remedy for inflamed, contaminated, or dead pulp in the tooth. The dental pulp is a soft material that contains the nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue in the middle of the tooth. The pulp chamber is the hollow section in the middle of the tooth that houses the pulp and extends into the root canals that extend through the roots of the teeth to the surrounding bone. Some roots have multiple root canals, but all of them have at least one. Root canal treatment (RCT) and endodontic treatment are the most correct terms for a procedure that treats the nerve of the tooth. Endodontics is a dental discipline that focuses on the pulp and tissues that form the root of the tooth. A root canal problem can be treated by a general dentist or an endodontist. An endodontist is a dentist who has undergone several years of specialized training after dental school to focus exclusively on root canals. Root canals may be performed by general dentists, but if the tooth is especially complicated or is being handled for the second time, the patient will be referred to an endodontist. The dental pulp is extracted during root canal treatment, and all canals and the pulp chamber of the tooth are filled and capped to prevent bacteria from entering.

Root Canal

When is a Root Canal Treatment Needed?

A root canal is done when the soft inner part of a tooth, known as the pulp, becomes injured or inflamed or infected. The crown of the tooth, the part you can see above the gums, can remain intact even if the pulp is dead. Removing the injured or infected pulp is the best way to preserve the structure of the tooth.

Common causes of pulp damage include:

  • A root canal is done when the soft inner part of a tooth, known as the pulp, becomes injured or inflamed or infected. The crown of the tooth, the part you can see above the gums, can remain intact even if the pulp is dead. Removing the injured or infected pulp is the best way to preserve the structure of the tooth.
  • Common causes of pulp damage include:
  • Deep deterioration due to an untreated cavity
  • Multiple dental procedures on the same tooth
  • A chip or crack in the tooth
  • An injury to the tooth (the pulp can still be damaged even if the injury does not break the tooth)

The most common symptoms of the damaged pulp include tooth pain, swelling, and a feeling of warmth in the gums. Your dentist will examine the sore tooth and take X-rays to confirm the diagnosis. Your dentist can refer you to an endodontist if they think you need a root canal.

Root Canal Procedure

Step 1: Anesthetic:

The dentist will place a small amount of numbing medicine on the gum near the affected tooth. You may feel a painful pain or a burning feeling, so it'll go away easily.

Step 2: Remove the Pulp:

When your tooth is numb, the endodontist or general dentist will make a small opening on the top of the tooth. The expert can carefully scrape the contaminated or weakened pulp using special equipment called files until it has been revealed. They will take special care to clean all the tracts (canals) in your tooth

Step 3: Antibiotics:

The dentist can apply a topical antibiotic to the area after the pulp has been removed to ensure that the infection is gone and to avoid reinfection. After the canals are cleaned and disinfected, the dentist will fill and seal the tooth with a caulk and a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. They may also prescribe oral antibiotics.

Step 4: Temporary Fill:

The dentist will finish the procedure by filling the small opening at the top of the tooth with a soft, temporary material. This sealant helps prevent saliva from damaging the canals.

Endodontics vs Dental Filling

A dental filling may be recommended if your tooth has a smaller cavity or minor tooth decay that has not reached the pulp of the tooth. If you have a fractured tooth and its root is not infected, your dentist may also be able to save your tooth with a filling. During treatment, your dentist will clean any cavities and then fill the hole or crack with tooth-colored composite resin so that the cavity or crack does not lead to major dental problems in the future. A root canal or endodontic treatment may be needed if you have a severely decayed tooth that has reached the pulp of the tooth and caused an infection. Untreated cavities and cracks in teeth can often lead to dental infections that warrant root canal therapy. During treatment, your dentist will save your natural tooth by extracting the damaged pulp to relieve pain, infection, and inflammation. Subsequently, a dental crown will be placed to restore the full functionality of the tooth.

Conclusion

A root canal is considered a restorative procedure. Most people who undergo the procedure can enjoy positive results for the rest of their lives. Still, how long your results last depends on how you care for your teeth. Just as the rest of your teeth depend on good oral hygiene habits, your restored tooth also requires regular brushing and flossing.


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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a root canal painful?

Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat an infection in the center of a tooth. Root canal treatment is painless and can save a tooth that would otherwise have to be completely removed.

2. Why is a root canal done?

A root canal is a procedure that is used to preserve a tooth that has been severely decayed or poisoned. Deep cavities, repetitive dental operations on a tooth, big fillings, or a crack or splinter in the tooth can cause the nerve and pulp to become swollen, inflamed, and infected.

3. Can root canal treatment cause headaches?

Root canal treatment is typically necessary if an infection develops, but if treatment is delayed, the infection may spread rapidly, or the roots of the teeth penetrate the sinus cavity and this may lead to a painful sinus headache.

4. What happens after a tooth is extracted?

When the inner tooth material is highly fragile, infected root canals cause severe pain. In some cases, root canal infection tends to thrive and leads to a tooth abscess.

Citations

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0099239905000051
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0099239906805352