The word root canal probably doesn’t make you feel too good about visiting the dentist or about your own teeth and gums, but it’s really not that bad! A root canal procedure, also known as endodontic treatment, involves removing infected dental pulp from inside of your tooth to save the tooth from needing to be extracted. Read on to learn more about what the root canal procedure entails and whether it may be right for you!
About root canals
A root canal treatment for an infected tooth. It’s usually done when a tooth has become badly decayed or damaged, which can lead to further health issues. You might have one if you have tooth pain or have developed complications with your jaw or gums. A root canal doesn’t remove all of your infected tissue—just enough to relieve pressure and kill bacteria so that it stops spreading in your body. The dentist drills into your tooth, removes part of its center (the pulp), cleans out any debris, fills it with antibiotic medicine, then seals it off with a crown that protects it from further damage. There are three common types of root canals: endodontic, apicoectomy and post-extraction; but not all dentists perform each type of procedure.
The anatomy of a tooth with an infected pulp
The pulp of a tooth consists of blood vessels, connective tissue, nerves, and lymphatic tissue. Infection in any of these components can cause pain. A root canal treatment involves removing most or all of your tooth’s nerve and pulp—the softer center portion—and filling it with a material that prevents bacteria from growing again in what remains of your tooth’s root. Removing infected teeth can save you from undergoing more expensive treatments such as crowns or bridges. We’ll go over everything you need to know about root canal procedure below
Root canal procedure explained in detail
A root canal procedure, also called a root canal treatment, is performed to remove infected pulp from inside tooth roots. In some cases, infection can spread beyond teeth to cause pain in other parts of your body. Symptoms of an infected tooth include: persistent pain, swelling or tenderness in your face or jaw. However, if you are experiencing these symptoms it does not necessarily mean that you have an infected tooth; many different conditions could be causing your symptoms. Instead of making an appointment with your dentist you should contact a local emergency room as soon as possible; they may be able to diagnose your condition and treat it before any permanent damage occurs.
After root canal treatment
Once your root canal treatment has been completed, you will be given antibiotics to take for a few days. This is to prevent any infections from developing in your tooth. You should also avoid eating anything crunchy or sticky that may damage your tooth. You should visit your dentist every six months for routine checks of your teeth even after you have had treatment. This will help ensure that no problems develop or reoccur. Many people feel fine immediately after having root canal treatment but it’s still advisable to keep taking painkillers for about a week afterwards, especially if you are in pain.
Common symptoms of root canals
It doesn’t matter how you got there, if you have symptoms like pain or swelling in your jaw, tenderness when biting down on certain foods, sensitivity to hot or cold foods, temperature changes that cause more discomfort than usual—your dentist may recommend that you get a root canal treatment. But what exactly does it mean to get a root canal? Can it help relieve your symptoms? Does it hurt? In fact, root canals are generally done for tooth pain caused by cavities—either caries (tooth decay) or fractures. By removing infected tissue from within the tooth and cleaning up around the nerve of an inflamed or infected tooth, root canals restore oral health while reducing overall discomfort. It doesn’t have to be scary!
How to avoid getting infected teeth
[21] If you want to avoid getting infected teeth in future, make sure you brush your teeth regularly, twice daily at least. Brushing removes plaque that may accumulate on your teeth during eating. Brushing also helps preventing gingivitis, an inflammation of gum caused by poor oral hygiene. The only way to ensure healthy and infection-free teeth is to visit your dentist every six months for professional cleaning or x-ray check up as recommended by your dentist.[22]
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