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What is a Root Canal
 Root
canal therapy is a dental specialty known as Endodontics. Although some
general dentists do root canals, an endodontist
is a dentist who has had advanced training and does only root canals. A
root canal deals with the life support system of a tooth (artery, vein, and
nerve) that are located in the center of a tooth called the pulp chamber.
Why Are Root Canals Necessary
 There
are several reasons that a root canal may be needed. The most common reason
is when decay and bacteria invade this normal sterile pulp chamber causing
an infection. This infection can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness
around the tooth. Trauma is probably the second most common reason a root
canal may be needed. A blow or injury to a tooth can cause rupture of this
internal life support of the tooth. Sometimes a tooth that has been
restored with a large filling or crown will die and require a root canal.
Once this pulp chamber of a tooth becomes diseased the tooth can not heal
itself. Without treatment by a dentist the abscess
will spread out of the tooth and into the bone of the jaw. An abscess can be a very severe medical problem.
What You Can Expect During a Root Canal
After a thorough examination and x-ray your dentist will
determine whether or not the pulp of the tooth is diseased. If treatment is
necessary, you will be given an anesthetic
to make the area around the tooth numb. An opening is made thru the crown
of the tooth. Then the pulp chamber and root of the tooth are cleaned,
enlarged and shaped. Medication may be inserted into the tooth to fight
bacteria. Once the internal of the tooth is cleaned and sterilized it is
filled with an inert rubber like material.
Root canals involve many steps and often take multiple  appointments.
Once treatment is completed the tooth will need to be restored. In most
cases this requires a crown. The crown serves to
strengthen the tooth as all root canal teeth tend to become brittle as time
goes on. Root canal treatment is successful in saving a diseased tooth in
about 95% of the cases. In most cases that tooth will then last you a
lifetime with normal care and lifestyle.
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