Root canals or root canals therapy is a procedure used to treat the causes of dental pain. It consists of cleaning out all diseased tissue from inside the root canal(s) to prevent further pain and infection. A small file is inserted into the opening in your gums, where each tooth enters the mouth (known as an apex). X-ray images are then taken to determine how much root surface area has decayed. While taking x-rays, if not enough tooth structure remains for adequate treatment, endodontic retreatment may be required.
Endodontic retreatment is a procedure in which the roots are treated again with another course of root canal therapy.
Root canals typically involve several visits to your dentist but may require more frequent appointments when treatment is especially complex. Your dentist, like Dr. Sten Ericson, will use an ultrasonic instrument to clean the diseased pulp from the inside of your tooth. When the diseased pulp is removed through your root canal(s), the space left is filled with gutta-percha and/or composite resin, which acts as filler material for strength and retention.
The last step requires obturation or filling all canals penetrated during cleaning. This final restoration helps keep bacteria out while allowing proper circulation within the tooth.
The opening of root canals can be filled with an inert material that is shaped to retain the original shape of your tooth. The double-pointed needle used to inject filler into root canal openings is about the size of a number 2 pencil lead. Each root canal needs only one point injected. The injection instruments can be used repeatedly for years if kept carefully clean and sterile. However, the needle (or trocar or cannula ) and syringe must be replaced regularly to ensure sterility.
Benefits of root canals
There are many benefits associated with root canal treatment; here, we look at several superior reasons why every patient should consider this lifesaving treatment:
1. Save your tooth
Root canal treatment is performed to save a tooth that cannot otherwise be salvaged. A root canal procedure can also prevent further damage to the surrounding teeth. If left untreated, the infection in the root of the tooth may cause inflammation which will spread throughout your jawbone resulting in severe pain and swelling.
2. Restore function
If you are experiencing regular discomfort, pain, or poor chewing ability due to an infected tooth, root canal therapy can help correct these symptoms. After completing this procedure successfully, most people experience relief from symptoms associated with their condition, including pain, pressure, and tenderness.
3. Save your gum tissue
Saving your healthy gum tissue at treatment is another advantage of getting a root canal procedure done. In some cases, the area around the diseased tooth may have to be shaved down to enable access. This can damage your gums or bone structure, so you should take this treatment option as soon as possible for a quick recovery.
4. Prevent further decay
Root canal treatment will prevent any infection from spreading and falling back into the tooth through the root tip, thus preventing future tooth decay. An infected tooth can lead to further complications such as swelling and pain in other parts of the mouth due to a lack of blood supply. It might even spread to other organs in extreme cases, making it a life-threatening condition if not treated on time.
5 . Retain natural tooth structure
The root canal procedure will not damage the natural tooth structure unless it is necessary for treatment purposes.
6. Save your face and jawbones
Root canal treatment also helps save vital structures like jawbones and facial structures if the infection spreads through them. Surgical removal of infected tissues at this point can be very risky due to their proximity to these critical structures.
7. Maintain healthy gums
You must maintain proper gum health post-treatment; otherwise, there may be a risk of recurrence of infection or further complications like swelling, inflammation, or pain at the affected site. You should practice good oral hygiene habits like brushing daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and using a mouthwash.
Who are root canals for?
Root canal therapy is usually performed on an emergency basis on a patient experiencing severe pain due to acute pulpitis. A dentist removes all traces of bacteria from within the affected tooth via a pulpotomy, followed by microsurgical reshaping of its interior surface and finally filling it with dental amalgam or other restorative material. In cases where this condition cannot be resolved naturally, root canal therapy may be necessary. This involves removing all traces of bacteria from within an affected tooth via a pulpotomy, followed by microsurgical reshaping of its interior surface and finally filling it with dental amalgam or other restorative material.