Why Did My Dentist Recommend a Root Canal?

Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, and helps to grow the root of your tooth during development. In a fully developed tooth, the tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

A Root Canal Treatment is a procedure that is recommended by your dentist in order to repair & save a badly damaged or infected tooth. This procedure involves removal of inflamed or infected pulp, careful cleaning & disinfecting it & then filling & sealing it with a material called gutta percha. The causes that affect pulp are a deep cavity approaching pulp, repetitive trauma to the tooth, a cracked tooth, faulty restoration.

Root canal is essentially a term that refers to the natural cavity that occurs within the core of a tooth. The nerve i.e. the pulp which is removed in the root canal treatment has no role in health & function of a tooth. Its only core function is to provide sensitivity towards hot & cold.

Why root canal treatment is recommended?

Pain: A toothache is the most common symptom of needing a root canal. The tooth may start to hurt spontaneously, in the middle of the night, or sometimes when the patient isn't even using the affected tooth to eat or drink. The pain can progress to a very severe generalized headache that may cause the person to even forget what initially caused the pain. If the tooth is dead and has become abscessed, the patient will feel pain when he or she chews food or puts pressure on the tooth. 

An Abscess:  may or may not produce swelling or bleeding around the tooth, and sometimes it causes significant swelling of the cheek, jaw, or throat. If this swelling is noticed, treatment needs are urgent.

It is very important, when feeling some pain around a tooth, to get a thorough examination with pulp vitality testing by a licensed dentist for a proper diagnosis.

What to expect during a root canal procedure?

1.      X-ray: If a dentist suspects you may need a root canal, he will first take x-rays to be certain of decay location.

2.      Anesthesia: Procedure is initiated with the administration of local anesthesia to the affected tooth.

3.      Pulpectomy: an opening is made & the diseased tooth pulp is removed.

4.      Filling: The roots that have been opened to get rid of the diseased pulp are filled with gutta-percha material & sealed off with cement.

Why Root Canal??

Saving the natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages:

1. Efficient chewing

2. Normal biting force and sensation

3. Natural appearance

4. Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain

Modern Endodontic Treatment is very similar to having a routine filling and usually can be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances.

 You can expect a comfortable experience during and after your appointment at Dr. Sachdeva's Dental Institute.