General Dentistry: How a Root Canal Can Save Your Tooth

If you have a badly infected tooth, a root canal is a common treatment method in dentistry. If left untreated for too long, there is a possibility that the tooth would need to be extracted. A root canal is the part of the tooth that houses dental nerves and pulp. When this chamber is infected, a root canal treatment cleans the area and removes the decay, which saves the tooth.

Reasons for a root canal

If decay is caught early enough, a filling is often adequate to fix the tooth. However, there are situations in which the decay is so bad that a root canal is necessary. If the decay reaches the innermost layer of the tooth, it irritates and infects the nerve endings of the tooth, which usually requires a root canal to remove.

A root canal may also be required if there is significant damage to the tooth. If the tooth is severely cracked or chipped, bacteria can easily enter the innermost chamber and cause infection. If there is an infection of the associated gums, this also makes the canal more susceptible to infection.

The biggest sign that the root canal is infected is tooth pain. This may be a sharp pain that occurs when the tooth is exposed to hot or cold liquids or when biting down, or the pain may show up as a constant ache.

Root canal process

Pain in a tooth should not be ignored. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the base of the tooth's roots and cause an abscess. If left too long, the tooth may need to be removed to prevent the infection from spreading to the gums and other teeth. To prevent this from occurring, a root canal is often recommended in dentistry. The procedure involves a number of steps.

Anesthesia

The dentist uses a local numbing agent to prevent potential discomfort.

Pulp removal

Once the area is numbed, the dentist makes a small opening in the tooth, exposing the infected material. The infection is removed, and the tooth's canals are cleaned thoroughly.

Reinfection prevention

After the removal of the pulp, a topical antibiotic may be used to coat the area to make sure the infection is gone and to prevent any future infection. The dentist will then fill and seal the tooth.

Filling placement

The next step is to cover the tooth's hole with a temporary filling. After a few days, the patient will return to the office for the final step. The dentist will check to see if the infection is gone, and if it is, a permanent filling is placed. Depending on the status of the tooth, a crown may be recommended for placement over the filling.