Dental Root Canals

Dental root canals are a procedure that many Americans will have to go through at some point. What they are is a treatment done by a dentist to save or repair a tooth that has become badly infected or badly infected. To help repair these infected areas, during the procedure the nerve and pulp of the tooth have to be removed. The inside of the tooth also has to be cleaned, repaired, and sealed. This is done because without treatment the tissue that surrounds the infected tooth might become seriously infected and form abscesses. An Abscess is a collection of puss that forms in infected areas and they can cause a lot of problems.

The tooth decay and damage that causes the need for a root canal can happen for a lot of reasons. Most often root canals are done because of damage and irritation caused by deep decay and improper teeth maintenance. Other common causes that might require a root canal could be repeated dental work on a tooth which causes damage, a tooth becoming cracked or chipped, and trauma to the face.

No matter what causes the need for a dental root canal, the tooth pulp is going to have to be removed. The simple reason tooth pulp has to be removed is because when tooth pulp is damaged it breaks down; causing bacteria to spread and multiply in the pulp chamber. When this bacteria and infection is left untreated, it may form an abscessed tooth. This would occur when a puss filled pocket of bacteria forms at the roots of the tooth. While this is a series problem, if the tooth pulp is not removed and the infected area is not treated, other problems can occur. These problems include swelling spreading to the face, neck, and head; bone loss in the jaw around the infected tooth; and drainage problems may form where puss and bacteria from the infected tooth oozes into the jaw and gum through a hole. All of these problems can be very painful and very serious.

There may or may not be signs that show dental root canals may be needed. However if symptoms such as darkening and discoloration of the tooth, swelling and pain in the gums, serve tooth pain when chewing, prolonged sensitivity to cold and heat, and pimples on the gum occur, than there is a good chance that a root canal is needed.

Multiple visits to a dentist will determine who would perform the required root canal. Depending on how serious of a case it is, and how infected the area is, a specialist or very experienced dentist might be required. An x-ray is going to have to be done before the procedure to determine the amount of damage done to the tooth. The x-ray will also determine the line of action needed. After these things are done a dentist will talk with a patient about what the best dental options are and a plan will be made that best fits a patient’s needs.

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