Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

An Overview Of The Root Canal Procedure

25 January 2017 by Charlotte Beck

If your dentist has recommended a root canal, you may be worried about pain associated with the procedure. Root canals are a safe and effective treatment for teeth with damaged and decayed pulp, and pain is kept at a minimum using anesthesia. Here is an overview of the root canal procedure so that you know what to expect.

Preparation

The first step your dentist will take before performing the root canal is to administer local anesthesia. The anesthetic is administered through an injection in the soft tissues surrounding the tooth. Your dentist will not begin the root canal until your tooth and surrounding tissues are completely numb.

After numbing the tooth, your dentist will use a thin layer of rubber or latex to isolate the tooth from the rest of your mouth. This barrier will shield the tooth from saliva and bacteria in the rest of the mouth so that the tooth can be effectively sterilized.

Removing Dead Pulp

To begin the root canal, your dentist will create a small hole through the enamel and dentin to access the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber is an open area in the center of your tooth that is connected to the roots and is normally full of healthy nerves and tissues. The dentist will use a combination of filing and irrigation to remove all decayed tissue from the pulp chamber.

After cleaning the pulp chamber, a longer file is used to reach into the roots of the teeth. This file will remove pulp from the roots and completely disconnect the tooth from the nerves at the base of the root. Finally, your dentist will sterilize the interior of your tooth by irrigating it with an antiseptic rinse.

Filling the Tooth

Once your tooth has been hollowed out, it is ready to be filled with artificial material to preserve the tooth. A natural latex known as gutta-percha is used to fill the root and pulp chamber of the tooth. A filling made of ceramic, composite resin, or metal is used to fill the hole that was drilled through the dentin and enamel. In some cases, a small metal or plastic post is inserted under the filling to support it.

Root canals are safe and virtually painless procedures that can save you from severe pain and infection caused by a decayed tooth. Talk to a dentist, such as George J Mendel DMD, if you still have concerns about an upcoming root canal so you can be relaxed and comfortable on the day of the procedure.

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