Root Canals
The majority of patients who need a root canal will benefit from the procedure.
What are Root Canals?
Root canal therapy helps to maintain the structure of a tooth that’s become infected or has had its inner pulp exposed. Each of your teeth has an inner pulp which houses the blood supply and nerves. If cavities are left untreated, the decay will eventually reach down into the pulp and cause it to become infected. In this case, a root canal is needed to remove the infected pulp and save the tooth from complete extraction.
Why are Root Canals needed?
There are two main reasons for why a root canal would be needed. The first and most common reason is because the tooth has become severely decayed. The decay might have reached the innermost pulp and infected it. The second reason for needing a root canal is because a tooth has broken or fractured to the point of exposing the sensitive pulp.
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Who’s a good candidate for Root Canals?
To determine if you need a root canal, we’ll perform an exam of the tooth and take x-rays. Just because your tooth is bothering you or is sensitive doesn’t mean that a root canal is always needed. Only an exam and x-ray can determine if the procedure is needed. The majority of patients who need a root canal will benefit from the procedure.
What happens during Root Canals?
First, we administer a local anesthetic to numb the area. We may separate the tooth using a rubber dental dam. The decay is removed from the tooth and the innermost pulp is removed. The canals of the tooth’s roots will be cleaned out using special instruments and then these canals are filled with special material. The hole that was made in the tooth is filled with simple filling material and cured into place. It is not uncommon to need a crown shortly after a root canal, so this is something to consider when having root canal therapy done.
If you think you might need a root canal or want to learn more about the procedure, call us today and one of our staff members can further assist you.
