When
the pulp is diseased or injured, the
pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove
it, your tooth gets infected and you
could lose it. After the dentist removes
the pulpal tissue which includes the
nerve and blood vessels, the root
canal is cleaned and sealed off to
protect it. Then your dentist places
a crown over the tooth to help make
it stronger.
Most of the time, a root canal
is a relatively simple procedure with
little or no discomfort involving
one to three visits. Best of all,
it can save your tooth and your smile!
Your dentist uses root canal treatment
to find the cause and then treat problems
of the tooth's soft core (the dental
pulp). Years ago, teeth with diseased
or injured pulps were removed. Today,
root canal treatment has given dentists
a safe way of saving teeth.
An
abscessed (infected) can be caused
by tooth decay. When the pulp is
diseased or injured and can't repair
itself, it dies. The most common
cause of pulp death is a cracked
tooth or a deep cavity. Both of
these problems can let germs (bacteria)
enter the pulp. Germs can cause
an infection inside the tooth. Left
without treatment, pus builds up
at the root tip, in the jawbone,
forming a "pus-pocket"
called an abscess. An abscess can
cause damage to the bone around
the teeth.
Treatment
often involves from one to three
visits. During treatment, your general
dentist or endodontist (a dentist
who specializes in problems of the
pulp) removes the diseased pulp.
The pulp chamber and root canal(s)
of the tooth are then cleaned and
sealed.
Here's how your tooth is saved
through treatment:
1.
An opening is made through the crown
of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
The pulp is then removed. The root
canal(s) is cleaned and shaped to
a form that
can be filled.
In some cases, your dentist may
fill the canal the same day. However,
oftenmedications is put in the pulp
chamber and root canal(s) to help
get rid of germs and prevent infection.
A temporary filling will be placed
in the crown opening to protect
the tooth between dental visits.
Your dentist may leave the tooth
open for a few days to drain. You
might also be given medicine to
help control infection that may
have spread beyond the tooth.
2.
On the next visit the temporary
filling is removed and the pulp
chamber and root canal(s) are cleaned
and the pulp chamber and root canals
are filled and sealed.
3.
In the final step, a gold or porcelain
crown is usually placed over the tooth.
If
an endodontist performs the treatment,
he or she will recommend that you
return to your family dentist for
this final step. The crown of the
tooth is then restored.
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