Root Canals: Treatment That Can Save Your Tooth

Why Do I Need a Root Canal?

The pulp is soft tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and provides nourishment for your tooth. It can become infected if you have:

• A deep cavity
• Repeated dental procedures that disturb this tissue
• A cracked or fractured tooth
• Injury to the tooth (even if its not visible)

If untreated, the tissues around the root of your tooth can become infected.  When this happens, you will often feel pain and swelling and an abscess may form inside the tooth and/or in the bone around the end of the root of the tooth.  An infection can also put you at risk of losing your tooth completely because bacteria can damage the bone that keeps your tooth connected to your jaw.

What's Involved In the Procedure?

A root canal treatment usually takes 1 or 2 office visits to complete.  There is little to no pain because your general dentist in Evansville, IN may use a local anesthetic so you don't feel the procedure.  Once the procedure is done, you should no longer feel the pain you felt before having it done.

Your dentist will:

• Take xrays to get a clear view of your tooth and surrounding bone.
• Numb the area so you are comfortable during the treatment.
• Create an opening in the top of your tooth.
• Remove the tooth's nerve from inside the tooth and in areas in the root, known as the root canal.
• Clean inside the tooth and each root canal.  Your denist may treat the tooth with germ-killing medicine.
• Fill the root canals with a rubber-like material to seal them against future infection.
• Place a temporary filling on the tooth to protect it until a definitive restoration like a permanent filling or crown can be placed at the earliest opportunity.

After the treatment, your tooth and the area around it may feel sensitive for a few days.  You can talk with your dentist about how to relieve any discomfort you may have.  Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics if the infection spread.  Use as directed, and follow up with your dentist if you have any problems taking it.

You will need to finish treatment on the tooth by replacing the temporary filling with either a permanent filling or a crown to protect the tooth from further damage.  A plastic or metal post may also be placed in the root canal to help make sure the filling materials stay in place.  This helps support a crown if you need one.

With proper care, your restored tooth can last a lifetime!  Make a point to visit the best general dentist in Evansville, IN- Dr Jenkins- regurlary to make sure your teeth are strong and healthy.

source: Mouthhealthy.org