The Truth about Root Canals

Eating healthy foods, practicing good oral hygiene (brushing regularly, flossing, etc..,), and having regular dental checkups is the best way to avoid dental complications. For various reasons, many people aren't able to follow this basic prescription for healthy teeth and eventually find themselves in a dentist's chair in excruciating pain. Damage to the delicate pulp portion of the tooth is often the cause of the pain, which is often relieved with endodontic therapy. Endodontic therapy, more commonly known by dental patients as a root canal, is one of the most unjustly feared and misunderstood dental procedures. Learning more about what actually happens during a root canal can help dispel the unfounded myths of root canal pain that prevent many people from seeking help from a dentist.

What is a Root Canal?

A majority of pain that people experience with their teeth stems from damage or injury to the soft tissue portion of the tooth called the pulp. This area of a tooth, which extends from the crown of the tooth to the root, consists of blood vessels and connective tissue. The pulp is primarily responsible for providing nutrients necessary for a tooth to grow, but it is also the main stimuli of pain or sensitivity in the mouth. When something goes wrong with a tooth, it is the pulp that signals pain the brain to get your attention. You can't see pulp when you look at your teeth in a mirror because it is protected by a crown (a white, hard covering). However, this protective layer may become compromised if a cavity develops or the tooth is broken due to an injury. When the tooth is exposed, germs and bacteria are able to enter the pulp chamber and cause mild to severe pain and damage. In the worst-case scenario, an abscess may develop and the individual may experience pain so severe that they will seek the assistance of a dental professional who will investigate the origination of the pain and typically recommend root canal therapy to relieve the pain and preserve the tooth. A root canal can involve cleaning a tooth to remove an infection, removing the pulp and associated root canals, or both.

Best Candidates

Individuals with teeth that have a pulp that is dead or severely damaged are considered the best candidates for a root canal. To determine if a tooth would benefit from a root canal, a dentist will inspect the gum tissue that surrounds the tooth, check for signs or symptoms of an infection, and take an x-ray of the tooth.

Root Canal Treatment Methods

A root canal procedure generally consists of the following steps:

1. Numb the area surrounding the tooth with a local anesthetic (typically Novocain).

2. Open the crown to expose the pulp chamber.

3. If an abscess is present, the dentist may allow it to drain for a couple of days before performing the root canal. (The patient is prescribed antibiotics to reduce infection.)

4. Examine the pulp and remove if it is severely damaged or dead. If the pulp is simply infected, only cleaning the infection may be necessary.

5. Clean the canals that lead to the root of the pulp to remove any germs and bacteria, and then reshape the canals.

6. Fill the crown with a temporary material, such as gutta-percha.

7. (In a subsequent dental visit) Remove the temporary material, clean the tooth again, and fill the tooth with permanent filling material.

8. In a subsequent dental visit the tooth receives a new crown.

Despite the benefits of a root canal, many people have negative thoughts about the procedure. The disconcerting feelings that people have about a root canal procedure are based on myths that have been around for years. Probably the number one myth is that the procedure will result in root canal pain. A dentist performing a root canal procedure will administer a local anesthetic to help minimize discomfort and medication to numb the surrounding area. The dentist may prescribe pain medication for soreness that may result after the procedure.

Benefits of Root Canal Procedure

The key benefit of root canal treatment is saving the infected tooth. Teeth that are treated with root canal procedure can last the lifetime of the patient. The benefits of root canal are:

• Preventing the loss of the tooth
• Eliminating the pain caused by the pulp infection, damage, or sensitivity
• Preventing the spread of infection

One common reason that people neglect to visit the dentist is cost. In regards to a root canal procedure, even people with dental insurance can expect some out-of-pocket expense. Before you undergo a root canal procedure, you should discover your financial responsibility before going through with the procedure.