WHAT IS THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE?
Have you been told recently that you may need a root canal? Were you not really sure what this meant? Root canals are actually a common procedure intended to save a diseased or damaged tooth. The center of the tooth consists of a fiber-like tissue called the pulp. If an infected tooth is left untreated, it can lead to enough damage that the tooth needs to be removed entirely. The root canal procedure can be done prior to the need for tooth extraction and occurs in multiple steps. Due to scientific advancements, the root canal procedure is much more streamlined than it once was. Today, the entire procedure may only require one or two dental visits and minimal pain. Below are the steps of the root canal procedure:
Step-by-step of the root canal procedure
Usually, the root canal process includes 4 steps that occur over two dental visits:
- Numbing: In order to minimize your pain and discomfort, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic. The anesthetic will numb the area where the root canal will take place. After a few minutes, the area will be numb, and your dentist will place a rubber dental dam in your mouth. The rubber dam serves the purpose of keeping the area where the dentist will be working both clean and dry during the procedure.
- Create an opening: After the mouth is numb and the dental dam is in place, the dentist will create a small opening in the tooth so they can access the pulp. The opening created allows the inside of the tooth, including the pulp, to be cleaned out. The pulp is cleaned out with a small file, and sometimes water is used to wash away debris. This opening is usually created with a drill. Where the hole is made in the tooth depends on which tooth needs to be treated. If the damaged or diseased tooth is in the front of the mouth, the hole is made on the back of the tooth. If the tooth being treated is a molar, the hole is usually made in the top of the tooth.
- Filling: Once the inside of the tooth is cleaned out completely, a filling will be placed inside the tooth. The filling placed may be either temporary or permanent. Fillings are made from various materials, and which material is up to the dentist
and what they think is best to meet the oral health needs of the patient. - Final touches: The last step is to make sure that the tooth is both physically durable and aesthetically matches the other teeth. Sometimes, this final step includes securing an artificial crown. If a crown is needed, this final step may occur a few weeks after the root canal procedure.
Recovery
After the root canal procedure, it's common to experience some pain and minor swelling. Taking care to keep the mouth, teeth, and gums clean is very important to help with proper recovery. If the pain continues for several weeks after the procedure, it is important to contact the dentist and schedule a check-up.
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