A root canal is a type of dental treatment for decaying teeth, especially when the decay has reached the pulp cavity. The pulp cavity is the part of your tooth that houses the nerves and blood vessels, meaning that if tooth decay has reached this part, you will most likely be in pain and have minor bleeding and swelling. Here's everything you need to know about root canals.
How Tooth Decay Occurs
If you fail to brush and floss your teeth regularly, food particles are left in your teeth and create conducive conditions for bacteria growth and multiplication. These bacteria eat away at your enamel, leading to a hole.
In the early stages, you might not notice this hole. However, when it starts to get deeper and larger, you will know it is there because your food will start to get stuck in the hole. That is why it is important to brush, floss and inspect your teeth regularly.
The treatment for a hole that has not reached the pulp cavity is usually tooth filling, a procedure that is not as extensive as a root canal. If the hole is left untreated, bacteria settle in the tiny hole and make it larger and deeper to the point it reaches the pulp cavity; this is where you start feeling pain and discomfort and start looking for a dentist.
Root Canal Procedure
The dentist numbs your gum and proceeds to cut away the decayed part of your tooth using a drill. The dentist then empties the pulp cavity. This means removing the blood vessels and nerves in your tooth. Don't worry; your tooth can survive without these blood vessels and nerves. The removal of pulp is important because it prevents infection in your gums.
The empty cavity is then filled with a resin and sealed. The dentist then places and shapes a dental crown on top to protect the cavity and also to create a durable biting surface.
This entire procedure can take an hour or 90 minutes. Since your dentist will have numbed you, it won't hurt. However, if you do feel pain, inform your dentist immediately. You need to be comfortable throughout the procedure.
Is a Root Canal Expensive?
The price of this procedure depends on how many teeth require a root canal procedure. However, allowing the decaying tooth or teeth to say in your mouth will cause worse health problems down the line, so regardless of price, you should have this procedure.
To learn more about root canals, contact a dentist near you.
Share23 October 2020
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.
