It was recently root canal awareness week, and for this week’s Dental Minute I just wanted to share a little bit about what a root canal is and what you can expect when you go for treatment.
A root canal is needed when the tissue inside the tooth, which is called the pulp, gets inflamed, irritated, or infected. That can be caused from a number of things. It can be caused from trauma, such as an injury, a large cavity, or a large restoration. When that happens, the nerve in the tooth, that soft tissue pulp, has to be removed and replaced with a biocompatible material. This seals the tooth from both the inside and the outside from bacteria getting inside and causing a worse infection. When you do a root canal, you actually get to keep your tooth. This can be a great alternative to someone who doesn’t want to have a tooth pulled
isn’t ready to make the commitment to have an implant or for some other reason.
Obviously, in order to prevent root canals, we want you to visit your dentist often, brush and floss, maintain a healthy diet, and do all the things that you’re supposed to. If you do need a root canal, rest assured that most specialists and dentists use the most up-to-date technology to make your process and procedure easy and pain-free. Things have really changed in this field and it’s not the same as it used to be.
After your root canal is completed, your specialist will send you back to your general dentist in order to have a crown placed. The crown protects the area of the tooth that’s exposed and allows you to have a long-term restoration.
If you need a root canal, we’ll be the first ones to get you the help that you need. If you have any questions about root canal treatment or just to schedule your new patient appointment, give our office a call at (270)685-1777.