Root canals are often misunderstood by patients to be a painful procedure, but the opposite is in fact true.
Many share with us their fear of root canals and the pain they expect the procedure to cause. In reality, the procedure is not the painful part - the pain already exists due to the infection inside the tooth. This procedure removes the painful, infected portion, thus releasing the pain.
To better understand what a root canal is, it helps to know the anatomy of your tooth. The outside portion of your tooth is a hard white enamel, and then just inside that is a layer of another hard material called dentin. The next layer is the soft tissue of your tooth, called the pulp. The pulp is a mass of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, which is there because it creates the hard outer portion of your tooth during development. The pulp is very important when you are developing your teeth, but once the tooth is fully grown, it is no longer needed, as your tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it. The pulp inside your tooth extends from the top all the way down to the tips of the root of each tooth.
When the pulp inside your tooth becomes inflamed or infected, a root canal may be necessary to remove the infected pulp. The tooth is then carefully cleaned, filled and sealed to bring normal function back to your tooth.
If left untreated, an infected pulp will likely lead to tooth extraction, so please don’t delay if you notice the signs listed below.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Patients are often aware that something is wrong with a tooth due to pain. Or, you may see a bump on your gums indicating an abscess, which is a sign of infection. Dr. Jenkins will find root canal therapy necessary when the pulp inside a tooth has become inflamed or infected.
What can cause an Infection?
Multiple dental procedures on a single tooth
A crack or chip in the tooth
An impact injury to a tooth
A deep cavity in the tooth
What are the signs to watch for?
If you are experiencing the following signs of an infected pulp, please contact Amanda Family Dental immediately for an urgent appointment. Remember, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that a tooth extraction will be necessary.
Pain
Lingering sensitivity to either hot or cold sensations
Tenderness to the touch or when chewing
Darkening of the tooth
Swelling
Drainage or tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gums
Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms, which is why regular dental checkups are so important.
How does a root canal work?
Dr. Jenkins begins by removing the infected pulp, which is the best way to remove the bacteria. She will then clean out the inside of the canal and fill it with a medicated rubber material to alleviate the pain and heal the infection. The area is then sealed, and your tooth can return to normal function. If your case has required a referral to one of our premier root canal specialists, at this point, you will return to Dr. Jenkins for placement of a dental crown on the now-weakened tooth to protect and restore it to full function. With the crown, your tooth can continue to function like any other tooth.
It is normal to feel sensitive in the area for the first few days after treatment. We recommend relieving this discomfort with over-the-counter or prescription medications, which will be included with Dr. Jenkins’ instructions. Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your root canal is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure, or pain that lasts more than a few days, call our office.
Additional services
Whether you’re looking for a general dentist close to home, or a specialty provider for a wide array of cosmetic dentistry services, you can trust our team at Amanda Family Dental! Our services include:
