Call Home About Us Meet Dr. When is a Root Canal Really Necessary? With more than 15 million root canals performed a year , you're definitely not alone if your dentist says you should consider a root canal treatment. Do you have pain and tenderness in your mouth from root canal pain? A root canal is a procedure to remove the inflamed or infected pulp from the inside of the tooth.
A root canal is a type of dental care known as endodontic treatment; endo means inside and odont means tooth in Greek. An endodontic treatment will be done to remove the bad pulp, clean the root canal, and fill and seal the space.
After the root canal is done, your dentist will place a crown or other restoration to protect the tooth. It is important to address the root canal as the infection can spread, causing health issues beyond your mouth. To talk about the tooth, we need a basic understanding of the anatomical build of a tooth. The outer part of the teeth is the enamel. The enamel is white and hard and made mostly of calcium phosphate. Under the enamel is the dentin layer. When the enamel is damaged, the cold or heat will enter pathways on the dentin layer into the tooth, causing pain.
Finally, the cementum is at the base of the root and is used to connect the tooth to the gums. For one, new and more efficient equipment has streamlined the procedure. Imaging techniques have far advanced. Anesthetic is now used in a way where even the first injection doesn't hurt. Since you will be given numbing medication during the procedure, you will not feel anything. This pain can vary from a dull ache to sharp or acute pain, but you should be able to manage your discomfort with an over-the-counter painkiller.
If your pain is too intense for personal treatment, or if it goes away and then returns, don't hesitate to see your dental professional. If you need the tooth extracted, your dentist will numb the area, so you don't feel any discomfort during the procedure. Next, they'll use a lever-like appliance known as an elevator to loosen your tooth while it's still in its socket. Forceps will then officially extract the tooth. You can expect to feel some pressure while this happens, but nothing that takes away your overall comfort level.
After your tooth is extracted, you'll bite on a piece of gauze for up to 45 minutes to clot the blood flow that naturally occurs. Light bleeding for about 24 hours after the procedure is normal and a bit of facial swelling, but ice packs can help reduce the inflammation. When eating again, stick to soft, cool foods that don't irritate your extraction site, and as you heal, you can gradually get back to your regular diet.
In general, it can take at least two weeks for the extraction site to heal, during which time you should gently brush your teeth to avoid further irritation. After examining your diseased or damaged tooth, your dental professional will recommend the most appropriate treatment method based on their experience. If you're concerned about paying for a root canal, affordable dental services like local dental schools are a viable alternative.
Root canal vs. This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
Shop Now. Our Mission. Contact Us. United States US English. In addition, endodontists are experts in pain management , and most cases can be treated quickly and comfortably. This false claim was based on long-debunked and poorly designed research conducted nearly a century ago, long before modern medicine understood the causes of many diseases. There is no valid, scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to disease elsewhere in the body. Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is always the best option.
Endodontic treatment has a high success rate and many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to neighboring teeth and supporting tissue. For even more information on root canals, click to visit our Root Canals Explained page that offers a step-by-step explanation of the procedure, benefits and more.
Root Canals Explained.
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