DENTAL
PROCEDURES Root
Canals
What
Exactly Is a Root Canal?
A root
canal is a dental procedure
that is used to remove
diseased pulp tissue
from the interior
of a tooth. The narrow
channels beneath the
pulp chamber in the
inner part of the tooth
are hollowed out and
cleaned, and the roots
are filed with flexible
nickel titanium files.
A tooth
is made up of three
main components: a hard
protective shell referred
to as enamel,
a softer and sensitive
middle layer referred
to as dentin and a soft
tissue inner layer referred
to as dental pulp.
Dental pulp is composed
of nerve tissue, lymph
tissue and blood vessels,
and is considered
to be the vital part
of a tooth. If dental
pulp is sufficiently
traumatized —
whether by exposure
to oral bacteria via
deep dental caries,
a fracture in the tooth
that enters
the pulp or a forceful
blow to the face — the
tooth begins to die
and root canal therapy
is often
required in order
to prevent or eliminate
infection and prevent
tooth loss.
A root
canal procedure involves
tooth disinfection and
the removal of all debris
(nerve tissue, lymph
tissue, blood tissue,
bacteria and infection)
from the coronal pulp
chamber and its associated
canals. Once an affected
tooth's canals are sufficiently
cleansed and shaped,
they
are filled with materials
designed to prevent
pain and infection from
recurring.
Root Canal Signs
Certain
signs may indicate that
you have a diseased
tooth or infected nerve
and therefore
may need a root canal.
These signs include:
. Minimal
to severe pain.
. Tooth discoloration.
. Swelling
and irritation in the
surrounding gum tissue.
. Signs of infection
visible on a radiograph.
. Dentists
typically recommend
a root canal in such
situations to save the
affected tooth
and preserve its functionality.
Why Are the Associated Toothaches So Painful?
Nerve
fibers, blood, and lymph
tissues are housed in
the root canals. Located
inside each
tooth is a pulp chamber
that funnels into those
root canals.
A tooth
can become inflamed
or infected for several
reasons, including severe
tooth decay
or a crack or chip in
the tooth. Failing restorations
such as dental fillings
and dental crowns
can foster bacterial
leakage into the dental
pulp. Once infected,
the dental pulp begins
to die
and the body's inflammatory
responses set it. The
combination of infection
and inflammation
can cause significant
pain. The end result
is a toothache.
In
cases where tooth extraction
is the only solution,
the missing tooth may
be replaced with
a dental implant or
dental bridge to maintain
functionality. By replacing
the missing tooth, a
proper bite is maintained
and the surrounding
teeth are prevented
from shifting. Because
a
severe infection can
be very dangerous, it
is important to receive
a professional evaluation
by a dentist who can
look deeper into the
cause of a toothache.
If an infection spreads
beyond
the jaw to the head
and neck, then more
extensive medical treatment,
including hospitalization,
may be required.
For more information visit our FAQ page.