Root canals are a common endodontic procedure that involves the removal of damaged or diseased root tissue and restoration of the root canal system with special material. Root canals may be necessary when a tooth is sensitive to hot and cold, cracked, chipped or decayed beyond repair. Although often associated with pain, root canal treatment actually alleviates dental discomfort.
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that removes infected pulp from inside your tooth. It’s performed in order to save the tooth from becoming irreversibly damaged and avoid having to extract it. The root canal process usually takes one or two visits and involves numbing the affected area, drilling into the tooth to access the root canals, removing the infected pulp, cleaning and shaping root canals and filling them with a special material.
What Are The Benefits of Root Canal Treatment?
Pain Relief
One of the primary benefits of root canals is pain relief. If root canals are needed, it’s likely because either an infection has already begun or because the tooth has been badly damaged in some way. By performing root canal therapy, any infection or decay that is present can be removed from inside the tooth before it causes further damage.
Prevention of Further Damage
Another benefit to root canal treatment is that it helps to prevent further damage to your teeth. During root canal therapy, any decay or infection is removed from the root canal system. This helps to prevent further damage to the root canal, which may otherwise have lead to an extraction of the tooth.
Saving a Tooth
Another benefit of root canals is that it allows for a damaged or infected tooth to be saved. Without root canals, a severely decayed tooth would likely require extraction, but with root canals it’s possible to save and restore the natural structure of your tooth.
What To Expect During Root Canal Treatment
Anesthesia
During root canal treatment you will be given local anesthesia in order to numb the affected area so that you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. It’s important to let your dentist know if you have any allergies or medical conditions that may interfere with the anesthesia.
Drill Access
In order to access the root canals, a small hole will be drilled into the tooth. This hole is used to remove any diseased root tissue and clean out the root canal system. Your dentist may also use special tools such as an endoscope to further examine the root canal system for any signs of infection or decay.
Filling and Sealing
Once all of the diseased root tissue has been removed, your dentist will fill and seal off the root canals with a special material. This material helps to protect the root canals from further damage and restores the natural structure of your tooth.
FAQs:
- Does root canal treatment hurt?
No, root canal treatment is usually not painful as it’s performed under local anesthesia so that you won’t feel any discomfort during the procedure.
- How long does root canal treatment take?
Root canal treatment typically takes one or two visits to complete.
- How successful is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is highly successful and can help to save a severely decayed tooth from extraction.
Conclusion
Root canal therapy is an effective way to save a damaged or diseased tooth. It involves removing any infected root tissue and filling and sealing off root canals with special material in order to restore the natural structure of your tooth. Although root canals are often associated with pain, they actually alleviate dental discomfort when performed properly.
