When the dentist informs a patient they need a Root Canal, a sense of dread immediately follows. No one wants to have to go through this procedure, especially if they have never had one done and do not know what to expect. This procedure can help a person’s tooth to be saved if it has suffered significant damage caused by a cavity or infection. The procedure is not that difficult to go through. Knowing what to expect can make a person feel much more at ease and ready.
Going in for a Root Canal is sometimes the only way of stopping the progression of pain and damage that can occur with severe cavities and infections. The procedure involves the dentist opening up the tooth and removing the damaged areas from the inside. Patients are placed under a local anesthetic so no discomfort is felt. Some people will feel minor pressure, but they should feel no pain while their tooth is being worked on.
The dentist will use special tools to create an opening in the top of the tooth. This allows access to the pulp and nerve. The pulp and nerve are both removed, in most cases, because of pain and damage. The dentist will use special tools to entirely clean out the tooth, including the tiny root canals that run down the bottom of the tooth. This treatment can be beneficial in helping a tooth’s health after infection and can stop the pain due to a severe cavity.
Once the tooth has had the pulp and nerve removed, the dentist will use a dental material called gutta-percha. Gutta-percha is a spongy material that is used to fill the inside of a hollowed tooth. It is important this material is used because it mimics natural tooth pulp, expanding and contracting as temperature changes occur in the mouth. The tooth is then sealed with a hard sealant and may need a crown to further protect it from ongoing damage.
If you are in need of this procedure, you have no reason to be afraid. The dentist will use the gentlest of methods to ensure your tooth is properly treated. If you would like to learn more, visit us
