What are Root Canals?
A root canal involves removing the inner pulp of a tooth. Every one of your teeth has its own inner pulp, which houses the nerves and blood supply necessary to keep the tooth healthy. If a tooth has become severely decayed or has cracked to the point of exposing this inner pulp, we’ll recommend that it be removed. Root canals are one of the most common procedures performed in dental offices.
Why are Root Canals needed?
The most common reason for needing a root canal is because you had a cavity that was never treated. The decay might have gotten to the point of reaching the inner pulp, causing it to become infected. You may have had a tooth that cracked or broke and exposed the inner pulp. Regardless of why a root canal may be needed, it is important to have the procedure done as soon as possible to prevent pain and severe sensitivity.
Who is a candidate for Root Canals?
To determine if you might need a root canal, we will perform an examination. We can even take x-rays to further help in identifying the need for a root canal. In general, patients who need a root canal may find that their teeth are painful and sensitive to both hot and cold liquids. In other cases, you may not even realize that you need a root canal if the pulp hasn’t been completely infected.
What happens during a Root Canal?
We first numb the area with a local anesthetic to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for you. We then isolate the tooth using a rubberized dental dam. Once this is done, we will remove any decay from the tooth to get down to the inner pulp. The pulp is then completely removed. The canals of the roots are thoroughly scraped clean of any remaining pulp and then filled with a specialized medicated material. The tooth is then filled with a tooth-colored filling and you will be ready to go home.
If you think you might need a root canal, call our office today and we can get you in for an appointment.