Let’s be honest, most people hate going to the dentist. Some are even afraid of dentists or at least the thought of dental procedures. Now let’s assume that your dentist advised you to see an Endodontist because you need a root canal. Well, you won’t be the first and certainly not the last to be told you need a Root Canal in Ann Arbor MI. First, let’s dispel a myth. Root canals are not painful procedures. Root canals relieve tooth pain and millions of teeth are treated and even saved through root canals, or endodontic treatment. Root canal treatment such as that provided by Washtenaw General Dentistry is not unlike having a filling and is often accomplished in one or two visits.
Endodontists are dentists that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the dental pulp. It helps to know the anatomy of a tooth to understand root canal treatment. In the center of the tooth is an area called the pulp. The pulp is made up of highly vascularized loose connective tissue, and nerves that carry signals to the brain.
One of its primary functions is to complete formation of the adult teeth and to nourishes the tooth structure, making the tooth durable and less brittle. It also provides cold and hot sensory function. An adult tooth can survive without the pulp because it gets nourishment from the surrounding tissues.
Endodontic treatment is a necessity when the pulp becomes infected or inflamed. Causes of infection or inflammation come from a variety of causes such as decay, misaligned crowns, and most commonly chips or cracks. Infections and inflammation left unchecked lead to pain or worse, abscesses. A person (and their tooth) can be free from pain with root canal treatment. During a Root Canal in Ann Arbor MI, a local anesthesia is given via injections to numb the tooth and the surrounding tissues. The diseased or inflamed pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected, this is not painful as the tissue being removed is dead or dying. Once the pulp is removed the tooth itself can no longer feel pain. The empty space is the then filled with a rubber-like, thermoplastic substance called gutta-percha. Then a crown is usually placed on top of the tooth as a seal protecting it from reinfection or damage. Visit website for more information.
