Root canal therapy is a dental procedure used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. The process involves the extraction of the center of the tooth, known as the pulp, which contains tissues and nerves. Endodontists are dental specialists who are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of tooth pain and in performing root canal treatments. The health of the dental pulp is very important, as a healthy pulp can help to avoid root canal therapy and continue regular treatment.
Root canal therapy is done when the pulp, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels in the tooth, becomes infected or damaged. During root canal therapy, the pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. The nerve and pulp of a tooth can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep cavities, repeated dental procedures on a tooth or large fillings, cracks or chips in the tooth. It can also occur due to trauma to the face.
When you have a root canal, your dentist first numbs the area and then makes an opening in the crown of the tooth. It then removes the pulp from inside the tooth and prepares the empty canal for a temporary filling and dental sealant. Your temporary filling will be removed when your tooth is restored. Until the root canal procedure is completely finished, with a permanent filling in place or crown, try to avoid chewing with the tooth. You will need to book an appointment with qualified professionals such as dentists who might suggest root canal therapy.
Although general dentists and endodontists can perform root canal treatments, endodontists perform this procedure much more often due to their increased volume and additional training which translates into a higher level of experience. The choice of the type of dentist to use depends to some extent on the difficulty of the root canal procedure needed on your particular tooth and the general dentist's level of comfort when working on your tooth. Most often, patients will have to visit a dentist and extract their tooth or undergo root canal therapy. A patient may not be able to determine the first signs of caries, but a dentist can detect them with the help of tools. If root canal therapy is not completed on the same day, a temporary filling is placed in the outer hole of the tooth to prevent contaminants from entering between appointments.
Even simple brushing, flossing, and prescribing other medications by the dentist can help you overcome pulpitis. Because a tooth that needs root canal treatment is often one that has a large filling or extensive decay or other weakness, it is often necessary to place a crown, crown, and post or other restoration on the tooth to protect it, prevent it from breaking, and restore its full functioning. In case of prolonged mismanagement of dental health, a situation may arise where you may need a root canal procedure to be performed on several teeth.