Root Canal Treatment – A way to protect teeth

Root canal treatment is the specialty of dentistry concerned with eliminating infection from the root canals of teeth and restoring the supporting tissues to health. Its purpose is to save teeth that have been so badly damaged by decay, fracture, abscess, etc. that usual dental procedures can no longer be employed.

Root Canal Treatment removes the infected or damaged pulp from the diseased tooth. After that, the hollow pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, filled and sealed. Root Canal Treatment saves a tooth that would otherwise be extracted. Although the pulp has been removed, the tooth is still anchored in the bone and can be used for biting and chewing.

Extraction is the only alternative. The extracted tooth will have to be replaced by a denture , a bridge or an implant. Otherwise the neighboring teeth will move into the space, creating problems with eating and cleaning. These problems can cause gum disease and new cavities.

Root Canal Treatment is done by an opening is made into the crown of the tooth. The pulp is removed from the pulp chamber and the root canals. The canals are then cleaned and are filled with an inert material and the access opening covered with a permanent filling. In many cases, a crown is placed on the tooth.

Root Canal Treatment can sometimes be completed in one visit but often several visits are needed. Back teeth usually require more time for treatment because they have more canals and are harder to reach. During Root Canal Treatment, X-rays need to be taken at each stage to assess the lengths and positions of the canals.

An endodontist treated tooth may be slightly more brittle than a normal tooth but with the proper restoration and care, can last many years. Proper care includes regular brushing, flossing, proper diet and six-monthly dental checkups. In truth, root canals play an important role in repairing decayed teeth and preventing their loss. Root canal treatment can prevent bacteria and toxins from entering the bloodstream through the infected teeth and causing other health issues.

Though most people prefer to avoid thinking of it, this type of treatment is often necessary. The treatment is not nearly as painful as most people imagine. A root canal is performed when the tooth's nerve tissue is already dead. Because all sensory perception is delivered by this nerve tissue, the fact that it is dead means that the treatment can actually be performed without anesthetic.

Root canals are nothing to fear. Specialists in endodontics are specialized dentists. They can help save infected or damaged teeth, and are not nearly as painful as many people think.