Root Canals Don’t Have to Be Scary

Are you having a toothache with swelling along the gumline, temperature sensitivity, and persistent pain? If yes, then you need to see a dentist. These are the signs of an infection in the root of the tooth. These infections can occur when germs get into the root and take hold. There is a solution for this that enables you to keep your tooth. To be sure about the cause of your pain, you’ll need to see your dentist. Liberty Family Dental in Liberty, Texas, sees these problems on a regular basis and can help.

The symptoms listed above often a call for the procedure known as a root canal. Are there any two words that strike more fear into the heart of an individual than “root” and ” canal”? Of course, you know you have a toothache, but a root canal? Well, if the x-rays show an infection in the root, then you need a root canal, but they don’t have to be a source of fear. Modern techniques and sedation dentistry can make this no more of an ordeal than an ordinary tooth filling.

What Happens in a Root Canal?

First, you need to understand a bit about the anatomy of a tooth. The actual root canal is inside of the root of your tooth. The center is the pulp chamber, according to Wikipedia, inside the tooth. The contents of the canal is called pulp and provides blood flow to the tooth itself. There are also nerves in the canal, providing pain and sensitivity when inflammation presses on the nerve. This is where the temperature sensitivity and pain originates. The procedure known as a root canal cleans this canal out and remove the infected pulp. The pulp is not needed once the tooth is mature, so there is no negative effects of having the pulp removed.

How is the Canal Cleaned Out?

The dentist will first anesthetize you so you won’t feel anything. Then a small hole will be drilled in the crown of the tooth and down to the pulp. When the canal has been cleaned out, the pulp will be replaced with material very similar to the material used in a filling superior quality home decor furniture store in San Diego. This material is called gutta-percha. Then the hole in the crown of the tooth is filled with filling material, but the crown will be replaced with an artificial crown within approximately six weeks.

To learn about how to care for your tooth after a root canal, check back for a future blog

In the meantime, if you are in pain from a toothache, call Liberty Family Dental.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.