Root Canal Therapy

A root canal procedure is commonly performed to salvage a tooth that has been severely damaged by decay. During a root canal, the material inside the tooth, which is called the pulp, is removed. The pulp is not only present in the crown, but it is also located inside the canal chambers of the tooth. Here is some information about root canal therapy and why it is performed.

Root canal procedures differ from pulpectomies.

When a pulp removal is necessary for a primary tooth, a pulpectomy is performed instead of a root canal. The removal of the pulp from the dental roots should only occur when treating an adult tooth. 

If the pulp is removed from the roots of a primary tooth, the removal may prevent the absorption of the roots when the baby tooth is shed. This lack of absorption could interfere with the presentation of the underlying permanent tooth.

The tooth is protected after the pulp is removed.

Once the pulp is removed, the inner chambers of the tooth are cleaned and disinfected. A filling is then added, and the tooth is subsequently covered by a dental cap or crown. 

The filling provides structural support to the hollowed tooth. The dental crown further fortifies the tooth and blocks the entry of oral bacteria.

The restored tooth looks natural after the root canal procedure.

Although root canal therapy permanently alters the tooth, after the procedure, the tooth is visually difficult to discern from the untreated teeth in the mouth. The crown, which is applied to the tooth after the removal of the pulp, is usually tooth-colored and matched to the tones of the other teeth within the oral cavity.

The root canal is performed for a variety of reasons.

Here are a few instances in which the dental pulp can become inflamed or infected, necessitating a root canal:

  • A crack or chip in a tooth from dental trauma
  • A dental infection from a deep cavity
  • A failed dental crown
  • Multiple dental procedures on the same tooth

Root canal therapy is not painful.

Root canal treatments are not painful. The dentist applies numbing medication to the area around the tooth to anesthetize it. The procedure is only performed once the patient no longer feels any sensation at the treatment site.

In addition, if a patient has dental fears, a sedative may be offered to help you feel calm and comfortable throughout the procedure.

For more information about root canal therapy, contact a dentist, like one from Apollo Dental Center, in your local area.


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