You’ve likely heard the adage; I’d instead get a root canal than… fill in the blank. In fact, 59% of people say they would rather get up in public and speak than get a root canal.
53% of people would hold a snake over a root canal, and 41% would rather go swimming with sharks over a root canal.
When did the root canal dental procedure get such a bad rap? Most people simply associate the root canal with unpleasant pain.
Yet, the reality is that advances in dental treatments and more proactive dental care have considerably changed all that.
If your dentist has suggested you need a root canal, it’s time to learn precisely what happens during the treatment. Read on to learn more about a root canal treatment and the steps to make it as easy on the patient as possible.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure done by a dentist or endodontist to address a damaged or infected tooth.
Just like the bones inside your body, your teeth have many layers. The inside of your teeth contains dental pulp.
The dental pulp inside your teeth can get infected or inflamed. This is when it becomes necessary to remove the affected dental pulp with a root canal procedure.
The dental pulp inside your teeth might become infected for any number of reasons, including:
- A deep cavity
- Cracks in the tooth
- Chips in the tooth
- Fractures occur on the tooth
When a dentist suspects a tooth has infected dental pulp, they will want to perform a root canal. Removing the infected pulp comes first, then the tooth gets sealed, and a crown gets placed on the tooth.
Signs You Might Need a Root Canal
A root canal is not part of regular preventative dental care; it is only performed when your teeth need one.
The good news is that your mouth and teeth are typically good at communicating when there’s an issue happening with your teeth. Often your mouth presents you with clues that something is awry, including:
- Hot and cold substance tooth sensitivity
- Severe pain or toothaches
- Gum swelling
- Deep cavity
- Tenderness near the infected tooth area
- Gum discoloration, looking darker near the gums of the infected tooth
- Tooth discoloration
Another more serious sign that you may need a root canal is a dental abscess. This might present inside your mouth on the gums as something that looks like a small pimple with a white head.
Often an abscess will present itself near the root of the infected tooth. This is a serious condition that shouldn’t be ignored.
Root Canal Appointments
Your root canal can be performed by your regular dentist. Some general dentists provide these services. Other dentists will refer you to an endodontist.
Generally, a root canal procedure will require the patient to see their care provider for three appointments.
Generally, the dentist or endodontist will take x-rays of the infected tooth during the first appointment. Then it will get numbed.
Then the dentist will go to the infected tooth and remove the infected pulp from the tooth. More on this step later.
After the infected pulp gets removed, then the dentist will insert into the tooth a medicated paste made of a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. This substance secures your tooth until the next visit.
You will then go for your second visit, where the tooth will get checked out, cleaned, and sealed.
Finally, when your crown is ready, the dentist will have you come for your last appointment, and the dental crown will get placed on the tooth to secure it.
Steps of a Root Canal Procedure
Now that you know the general steps. Let’s look more closely at exactly what happens when the dentist is working on the infected tooth.
Remember, the goal of a root canal is to remove the infected pulp from the tooth and then secure the tooth, so it remains strong in your mouth.
The dentist will use injections to numb the gums around the infected tooth and the tooth’s root. Then the dentist will place a dental dam in the mouth. The dental dam helps to isolate the tooth being worked on from the rest of the mouth.
This prevents any bacteria in the mouth from getting into the area being worked on and cleaned by the dentist.
Once the dam is in place, the dentist will drill into the root of the tooth to access the tooth’s root. This is the step where the dentist will work to remove any infected tooth pulp from the roots of the tooth.
Getting rid of the infection is key at this step of the root canal. Once the tooth canals no longer have infected pulp, the dentist will shape the canals so they’re ready for filler. Once shaped, the canals get cleaned and disinfected again.
Then the dentist uses gutta-percha to fill the canals. This is a rubber-like material used to fill the canals and prevent bacteria from returning. The gutta-percha is warmed and packed into the canals. Then an adhesive cement is used to also help seal the tooth roots.
Finally, the hole that was created to access the tooth’s roots is sealed. In some cases, depending on the condition of the tooth, the dentist will also place a post to help support the tooth.
Recovery
Most people worry about a root canal because they’re concerned about pain. Every situation is different, but in most cases, pain should be mild. Discuss a treatment plan with your dentist if you’re experiencing pain following the procedure.
In most cases, the dentist will ask that you be careful and gentle on your teeth until the permanent crown can be placed over the tooth where the root canal was performed.
Root Canal Procedure, Know More
While a root canal might feel daunting, in most cases, it’s a pretty straightforward dental procedure. It’s much wiser to address the issue than to leave a tooth infected in your mouth.
If you’re worried about tooth pain, we can help. Contact us today so we can help you have a healthy mouth.