Root Canal Dentistry Is Necessary And Should Be Painless

By Adriana Noton

Root Canal Dentistry is known casually as 'having a root canal.' It is known formally as endodontic therapy. Getting a root canal is often thought of as a painful procedure, but it should actually be painless if it is done right and it is absolutely necessary for damaged teeth. If teeth are neglected, they can become infected, be extraordinarily painful, and lead to further serious health problems if infection spreads.

If a dentist sees a tooth is cracked or decaying and therefore vulnerable to infection, the tooth is cracked open with a drill. Inside a tooth contains pulp. The pulp may already be infected, but whether it is or not, the pulp is extracted from the tooth completely. This fully kills the tooth, but it at least saves the tooth in form and keeps it from having to be pulled.

It also saves a lot of pain since it should stop or prevent the infection. After the pulp is taken out, the tooth is cleaned, filed, and filled with a dental cement or sealant. Usually this is a liquid that must be hardened with X-rays. The good thing about doing a root canal this way is that the liquid can seep into all areas of the cavity, making sure it is totally closed up.

The tooth dies, which means that all the nerves are gone from it and there is no blood supply. To help protect it, a crown is often put on. You still have use of the tooth and don't have any unsightly gaps, which can be seen even if it is a back tooth.

So why are root canals so dreaded? Why do people think they're so painful? The answer lies in the people who do not take care of their teeth and who wait to see dentists. If someone allows an infection to spread to his or her gums until the pain becomes unbearable, the root canal will be painful because a dentist can only control so much of a person's pain. When the infection hits the gums, it fills them with pus. Root Canal Dentistry tries to prevent this.

The pus means a longer process before the tooth can be fixed and a longer recovery. The root has a lot of pressure put on it by the pus, which is why it is painful. A dentist must make incisions so the pus is able to drain out. Medication is also usually given in this situation to help control the infection and to dry the pus. It takes at least a week before the tooth is ready for surgery.

Root canals, though necessary, can leave someone with lasting problems. There have been instances of tiny pieces of dental tools breaking off inside the tooth and being left there by the dentist. The tooth has a small chance of still becoming infected after the surgery, or it may become infected years later.

Teeth are also delicate if root canals have been performed on them because the center of the tooth is scraped out. It leaves its structure flimsy. A tooth is therefore likely to crack. People also tend to think that having a crowns means your tooth doesn't need to be taken care of. This is not true. The tooth needs just as much attention as any other. If you take care of your teeth in the first place, none of this pain or expense need be undergone. - 29879

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