A Root Canal is a method in dentistry also known as “paying off the nerve”. In the Root Canal process the vascular nerve blocks inside the tooth causing enormous pain is extracted to avoid further suffering of a patient. With specialized equipment, teeth and gum area are cleaned achieving infection-free operation.
Each patient’s tooth has a lot of blood vessels that expand forming a network of sensitive nerves. A root canal is usually a simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits to a dentist. Most patients report that having root canal treatment today is as unremarkable as getting a filling. The best news is that it can save your tooth and your smile!
What is a Root Canal Treatment?
Our participating dentists use a root canal procedure to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. The soft tissue around the tooth contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment has given our participating dentists a safe way of saving teeth.
What is Dental pulp?
The space inside the root canals is filled with a highly vascularized, loose connective tissue, the dental pulp. The dental pulp is the tissue of which the dentin portion of the tooth is composed. The dental pulp helps complete formation of the secondary teeth (adult teeth) one to two years after eruption into the mouth. The dental pulp also nourishes and hydrates the tooth structure, making the tooth more resilient, less brittle and less prone to fracture from chewing hard foods. Additionally, the dental pulp provides a hot and cold sensory function. Root canal is also a colloquial term for a dental operation, endodontic therapy, wherein the pulp is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled.
Why do I need Root Canal Treatment?
The simple answer is because your tooth will not heal by itself. The infection will spread without treatment. The bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate and the tooth may fall out. Pain usually worsens until you are forced to seek emergency dental attention. The only alternative is usually extraction of the tooth which can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly resulting in a bad bite. Though an extraction is cheaper, the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can be more expensive than root canal treatment. If you have the choice, it’s always best to keep your original teeth.