Root Canal
A list of Root Canal related sites include:
A Root Canal procedure is used to try and keep a tooth from falling out. The inner most layer of the tooth contains sensitive tissues called Dental Pulp. The pulp continues through the root of the tooth. If for whatever reason this dental pulp becomes infected by bacteria the tooth begins to die. After some time the tooth will become loose and fall out. This procedure seeks to remove the infected dental pulp so that the tooth doesn’t fall out later on.
Symptoms
A Root Canal may save a tooth but how is a person going to determine that they need one? Here are some symptoms associated with an infected dental pulp:
- Swelling of the surrounding gum.
- Irritation of the surrounding gum.
- Toothaches. This is can be a minimal or severe pain.
- Discoloration of a tooth.
Consulate with your dentist if you have any of these symptoms before it’s too late. A late course of action will result in tooth loss and you may choose to get a dental implant to replace the loss tooth. However, it is cheaper, quicker and easier to perform a Root Canal procedure.
The Procedure
The procedure begins with an anaesthetic being injected in the target tooth in order to prevent pain that the patient may feel during the procedure. When the anaesthetic has settled, the dentist will begin to drill into the tooth from the top until it reaches the dental pulp in the pulp chamber.
The dentist will now use dental equipment including a small titanium file to remove the infected dental pulp and other bacteria within the tooth’s Root Canal. This is where the procedures name comes from. After the removal of the contents a natural material called ‘Gutta-Percha’ is used to fill and seal the empty canal.
If the procedure was a success, the dentist will them fix a dental crown or filling over the tooth. This is to ensure the tooth is protected from future use. The patient will be given medication to use for post procedural pain and discomfort.
The Root Canal procedure will save a tooth and keep a patient’s smile. Having this procedure certainly beats having a tooth implant.