Root Canals
Root canals are a type of dental procedure used to repair badly infected or badly decayed teeth. A root canal procedure is typically performed when the pulpy material inside a tooth becomes inflamed or infected and needs to be removed to save the tooth. Root canals involve the removal of the infected nerve and pulp inside a tooth and the subsequent cleaning and sealing of the tooth to prevent further damage.
What Is a Root Canal?
The term root canal itself refers to the hollow space in the middle of the tooth. The space, which is also known as the pulp cavity is connected to the tooth’s root via narrow canals. The entire cavity is filled with a soft pulpy substance which also surrounds the tooth’s nerve.
The primary function of the nerve and the surrounding pulp is sensory in nature. The dental pulp and the nerve allow the tooth to discern between hot and cold. Dental pulp also plays a role in keeping the tooth properly nourished. A tooth can function perfectly normally even if the dental pulp is removed, which is why root canals have become a popular option for saving decayed teeth.
Why Root Canal Procedures Are Necessary
Root canals are performed when the blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue that together form dental pulp, becomes infected. This infection can spread all the way down to the roots of the tooth and inflame the surrounding tissues. Inflammation of the dental pulp can sometimes cause intense pain and swelling of the gums. The swelling can sometimes spread to the lips, face and neck. In other cases, the infection may cause the tooth to darken and become discolored. If left untreated, the inflammation could cause the entire tooth to decay and fall out.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canals are a form of endodontic therapy used to save teeth when the dental pulp becomes infected. Endodontic specialists treat infections of the dental pulp and tissues surrounding a tooth. Root canals often begin with an X-ray of the infected tooth. The dentist then typically gives the patient local anesthesia to minimize discomfort during the procedure.
The actual procedure itself involves the drilling of a small access hole into the tooth. The hole is used to extract the infected pulp, nerve tissue and other debris from inside the infected tooth. Drills of varying diameters are used to extract the dental pulp. Once all the material has been removed, the pulp cavity is cleaned out with water or a sodium hypochlorite solution. In some cases, the dental specialist might decide to seal the cavity on the same day. In other cases, the dentist might wait a few days to ensure that no infection sets in, before sealing the access hole. Root canals are often portrayed as a particularly painful dental procedure, but in reality they often cause little more discomfort than other dental procedures.