Root canal therapy is a dental treatment process for the diseased pulp of a damaged tooth that is designed to cause the removal of the foreign infection and eventual destruction of the affected tooth. The treatment is undertaken by a root canal dentist, who uses powerful instruments to make a cavity or hole in the pulp tissue. This process extracts the tooth's nerve cells, the pulp tissue and the supporting bone from the jawbone so that the pulp itself may be drained and discarded, leaving only a small area of bone and nerve tissue intact. The whole procedure can be quite painful and costly for a patient, but restorative procedures have been developed to relieve most of these symptoms and prevent recurrence.
Root canals can be performed in different ways, depending on the depth of the infection, location of the tooth, the patient's overall health, and the dentist's skill. A root canal can take anywhere from six to thirty-six minutes, though it can sometimes take longer, especially if the tooth has an extensive infection. Generally, the procedure must be done on an outpatient basis, but the recovery period will vary based on the severity of the infection. Some people experience a significant amount of pain following the procedure; others are entirely pain free. Usually the procedure can be completed in about sixty minutes, though it can sometimes take much longer, sometimes over one hundred minutes.
One of the most common reasons for root canals is tooth decay. Root canals are recommended to patients who have a history of tooth decay, particularly when the decay is located close to the pulp chamber, where the nerve roots emerge from the pulp. This is also true for people who have suffered trauma to the tooth, such as a chip or a fracture, which could weaken the nerve roots and make them more susceptible to infection.
Patients suffering from tooth loss due to tooth decay, gum disease, or structural damage to the tooth usually receive root canals, as well. In order to determine whether a patient needs a root canal or dental crown, the dentist will perform a series of dental exams and x-rays to look at the pulp chamber. If the pulp chamber is filled with a dark material, the dentist will likely recommend a root canal treatment. The doctor will also look to see if there is a visible sign of tooth loss, such as a hole in the tooth, a receding gum line, or if the tooth is not growing properly. Visit https://www.dentalwellwi.com/root-canal-vs-extraction for more details on this topic.
For patients who do not require root canal procedures, there are other options. In most cases, tooth extraction will suffice. However, some dental problems, such as decayed, infected, or broken teeth, may require root canal treatments, as well. In these cases, the dentist will remove the affected tooth, clean and fill the cavity with a dental crown, and then place a crown on the tooth.
Even though a root canal procedure can be quite painful, there is no need for pain medication or sedation. The dentist may ask you to make some type of verbal or physical expression when he or she is making the first steps to extract the tooth. However, you should not feel any pain when the dental crown is placed on the tooth. Once the tooth has been removed, the pulp chamber will be closed and the dental crown will be placed on top of the tooth. To get more enlightened on this topic, see this page: https://www.britannica.com/science/dentistry.
