Your Midland Invisalign® Provider
If your dentist has recommended getting a root canal, you probably have many questions. In this blog, our Midland dentists explain what happens during a root canal, so you know what to expect.
Why would I need to get a root canal?
Each tooth has a pulp inside of it that can get infected by bacteria after a traumatic injury or as the result of a deep cavity. Your dentist is the only person that can assess your tooth and determine if you need to undergo root canal surgery, especially since the pulp can even become damaged without any visible chips or cracks in the tooth.
Root canal therapy (also called endodontics) has the ability to rescue a tooth that has a severe interior infection. If a root canal isn't completed, the tooth can die and will have to be extracted. Missing teeth can result in complex oral health problems that could be time-consuming, costly, and difficult to correct. Therefore, if they can, dentists always prefer to save a tooth with a root canal.
A root canal can preserve your tooth and alleviate symptoms such as:
Severe Toothache Pain
If the tooth pulp is infected, it will often feel painful. You may notice sharp pain whenever you apply pressure to the tooth, such as during chewing. There also might be sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.
Bump on the Gums
Also known as a dental cyst, this small, pimple-like bump forms on the gums near a tooth that may need a root canal. Dental cysts develop around the roots of an infected or decayed tooth. They may also form if the tooth’s pulp is infected.
Darkening of the Tooth
If the pulp of your tooth is infected it can make the colour of your tooth darker because of the internal damage. If you see that one of your teeth has a darker colour than the rest, you make have a problem with the inner pulp of that tooth.
What will happen during my root canal procedure?
With modern dental technology and techniques, root canal therapy has become a relatively simple and minimally invasive procedure when compared with a tooth extraction or other procedures.
Your dentist will use anesthesia to numb the area before using specific tools to make an opening in your tooth. The diseased blood vessels, dead tissue, or bacteria will then be taken out of the tooth's interior. The inner chamber of your tooth will be shaped and irrigated with water, in order to rinse away any diseased tissue that may still be remaining.
Your dentist may also apply an antimicrobial solution to eliminate any remaining bacteria and decrease your risk of further infection.
After the chamber has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, it will be filled with medicated dental material. Your dentist will then place a temporary filling to seal the tooth until a permanent crown is placed.
You will then need to come back several weeks later so your dentist can place the permanent dental crown to help protect the tooth from future damage.
If you are curious about others' experiences during their root canals, you might type "root canal reviews" into your favourite search engine and read up on the topic. Most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime, and help you maintain confidence in your smile.
If you would like to know more about root canals and how they can help restore your oral health contact our Midland dentists today.