Even if you have never personally had a root canal, you have probably at least heard the procedure mentioned in one context or another. Maybe a friend or family member has had one. Perhaps you have heard it discussed with horror on television or in movies.
Root canals are often associated with the dental industry as a procedure to avoid, a horrible outcome you want to prevent by taking good care of your teeth. The dental treatment is also used in popular sayings, as in “I would rather have a root canal than do something.”
However, is a root canal really so bad? Since it is a corrective treatment, the answer is no. Many people view root canals negatively without understanding them. To counteract this, here is a brief introduction to help you begin to understand what exactly a root canal is and what it entails.
What Is a Root Canal?
So, what exactly is a root canal? Also called the endodontic treatment, a root canal is a treatment that saves infected, diseased, and/or damaged teeth. The inside of a tooth is filled with a soft tissue called pulp which is filled with connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels.
The pulp is responsible for the synthesis of the tooth’s harder parts and is connected to the tooth’s roots’ surrounding tissue. It is necessary for the tooth’s development and growth but becomes less necessary once the tooth reaches maturity.
Sometimes infection or inflammation can emerge in the tooth, causing the need for a root canal. The most basic parts of the process are as follows:
- The affected tooth and the area surrounding it are numbed with anesthesia.
- A hole is drilled in the tooth.
- The infected/inflamed pulp is removed.
- The now hollow tooth is disinfected and washed.
- The tooth is filled and sealed.
- Another filling (temporary) is placed.
- The temporary filling is replaced with a crown.
While root canals are often thought about as agonizingly painful, they are not in real life due to the anesthetic medicine. However, there may be residual pain and/or discomfort for a little while after getting one.
What Causes Pulp To Become Inflamed or Infected?
So what circumstances can lead to needing a root canal? There are many possible causes of inflammation or infection in a tooth. These include a chip or crack in the tooth, decay, a bad crown, and even having the tooth operated on too many times. Non-visible damage to the tooth can also result in inflammation and/or infection of the pulp.
What Are Some Signs That You Need a Root Canal?
Problems with your gums might indicate you need a root canal, including swollen gums, tender gums, gum pimples, and darkened gums. Other signs are a pain when biting and chewing and sensitivity to hot or cold that stays even after the source of the temperature has gone.
If you need a root canal done, you can go and get one at Pathway Dental Group – Santa Barbara.
Root canals are simpler and considerably less ominous than they are presented as. They save teeth and prevent the development of painful, possibly life-threatening abscesses.