Root Canal Process
- checklist of symptoms
- tooth diagram
- root canal process
illustrated
- most commonly asked questions
To see a checklist of symptoms,
and see whether or not you might require a root canal, click
here.
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If the nerve
of your tooth becomes
infected by decay, or damaged by trauma, root canal treatment is
often the only way to save your tooth.
Inside your tooth's hard
outer shell of enamel is a nourishing pulp of blood vessels, lymph vessels and
nerves. The root canals, which contain the pulp, extend to the
bone.
Deep tooth decay, or an injury, can cause serious damage and
infection to the pulp's nerves and vessels. A "root canal" (the
technical term is endodontic
treatment) cleans out the infected pulp chamber and repairs the
damage. |
Root Canal Steps
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- Anesthetized tooth is prepared to allow access to
pulp chamber.
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- Length of each canal is
determined.
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- Canals are widened and cleaned.
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- Canals are filled.
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- Tooth
may require protection and reinforcement with a crown.
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Most
Commonly Asked Questions
If you
remove the nerve, won't the tooth be dead?
No, the nerve is only part of the tooth's vitality. Strong
living fibers attach the tooth to the bone, which makes a nerveless
tooth very much alive and functional.
Am I
justified in spending money for root canal treatment?
The alternative is extraction and replacement of the tooth with a bridge
or an implant. Besides losing and important member of the
dentition, the artificial substitutes usually cost more than root canal
treatment and the permanent restoration of the tooth.
How
long will the tooth last after root canal treatment?
Often as long as the other teeth in the mouth, provided the person is in
good health and his or her body has the ability to repair damaged bone.
The tooth must also have healthy fibers supporting the tooth in the bone
(healthy gums around that tooth).
Will
the tooth darken after treatment?
Most of the time discoloration of the tooth does not occur. Where
a tooth may have been discolored before endodontic treatment began, it
is sometimes possible to correct the discoloration through endodontic
bleaching procedures.
Will
the tooth crack or fracture?
Measures will be taken while root canal treatment is in progress to
prevent this from occurring. You may further prevent fracture by
strengthening this tooth with a crown.
Will my
health be jeopardized by a root canal treated tooth?
Not at all! Once an endodontically (root canal) treated tooth has
healed, it takes its place as a functional organ of the body much as a
once broken leg can soon support body weight.
Can a
root canal treated tooth be used as an anchor for a bridge?
Yes indeed. With proper bone support a nerveless tooth is an
excellent bridge anchor.
If the
tooth is dead why does it hurt so much?
Discomfort prior to treatment is a result of infection and inflammation
of the nerve, surrounding bone and soft tissue. Once the offending nerve
canal is cleansed and medicated, the pain will go away and the tooth
will feel normal again.
Can
root canal infection always be treated successfully?
Unfortunately not. Sharp curves due to unusual root growth and
extremely narrow canals occasionally make instrumentation and medication
impossible; however, this does not mean the tooth necessarily must be
lost, since other procedures can often save the tooth (e.g. apicoectomy, etc.)
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