Root canals
Root canal procedure is also known as endodontic treatment. This is a dental procedure where the dentist reams infected pulp out of the canals in the roots of a tooth, when it becomes infected or inflamed. The procedure is meant to repair and to save a tooth that is badly decayed or has become infected. Pulp is the soft tissue in the tooth that contains blood vessels, connective tissue and nerves. Pulp helps the tooth grow during development. A fully developed tooth can survive without the pulp.
Inflammation and infection of the pulp can be caused by a variety of factors including; deep decay, faulty crowns (top layer of the tooth), repeated dental procedure on the tooth, cracks and chips of the tooth. If left untreated it could cause pain to the patient or could lead to an abscess. An abscess is a pocket that is filled with puss that forms at the end of the root. An infection for the tooth’s root canal can cause swelling on the face neck and on the head. It can also lead to bone loss around the tip of the tooth.
Symptoms that you should look out for include; prolonged sensitivity to cold or hot, severe pain when chewing or when pressure is applied, tooth discoloration (darkening of the tooth) and tender swollen gums. In some cases there are no symptoms present.
During the procedure, dentists will use local anesthesia so they put the patient at ease and relaxed. The infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected during the procedure. After this, it is filled and sealed using gutte-percha which is a rubber like material. The tooth is then restored with a filling or a crown for protection purposes. The tooth can then function like any other tooth