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“Root canal” may be two of the scariest words in the English language. It conjures up images of a long painful dental appointment. When I ask people if they know what a root canal is, the standard answer is “No, but I’ve heard it’s painful.”
Well, good news. Today with our new technology, root canal treatment is painless and can be accomplished in only one visit. I hope the following information helps. Please let us know if you have any further questions. |
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Q: What is a root canal?
A: The canal is a small hollow space that goes into your tooth via the root tip. In a healthy tooth nerves and blood vessels are contained within the canal system. They allow you to tell when things are hot or cold, and to determine how hard you are biting.
Q: Why would I need root canal treatment?
A: When a tooth sustains enough trauma the contents in the canal start to die. This trauma can come from a blow to the tooth, decay, or even things like excessively grinding your teeth over time. When the canal contents degenerate, your body reacts to them as it would any foreign substance. It is now time for us to open the tooth and remove the canal contents for you.
Q: Does my tooth always have to hurt before root canal treatment is done?
A: No. Symptoms that require root canal treatment certainly can be pain, hot, cold or pressure. There are times however, when the canal contents have died so slowly over a long period of time that painful symptoms do not occur. We discover the degeneration of the canal contents via x-ray then begin treatment accordingly.
Q: How is the root canal performed?
A: The tooth is anaesthetized in a manner similar to that used for fillings or other general dental work. The tooth is then isolated via a rubberized matrix. This prevents you from swallowing any bacteria or debris from the canal. Next, tiny nickel titanium files are inserted into the canal system to remove the canal contents. Two different antibacterial solutions are used here to flush out loose debris and disinfect the canal. When the canal system is clean and dry, a biocompatible sealing agent is placed into the tooth and the canal system is sealed shut.
Q: Do I always need an antibiotic after or before treatment?
A: No. Most times antibiotics are not required. If the canal has degenerated to the point of abscess, then antibiotics may be used. Much of this is dependent upon the type of bacteria present and your body’s own personal resistance and ability to fight it. |
