Endodontic is the dental specialty that deals with the nerves of the teeth .Root canals are probably the most notorious procedure in the dentistry and the most common procedure relating to endodontics. When a tooth becomes infected it is usually related to the nerves in the root of the teeth. The infected nerves need to be removed .If left untreated an infection can turn in to abscess, which is a much more serious problem that includes bone loss in the jaw.
The area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic to start the procedure. The dentist will then drill down in to the tooth to create an opening into the canal. They will then be able to remove infected tissue and clean the canal. After the infection has been removed, the space if filled with a sealant called guttta percha. It is highly recommended that a tooth that has undergone a root canal is fitted with a crown. This will improve the appearance of the tooth, and will also make it much more likely that the root canal is successful.
“Root canal” has become a scary term for dental patients to hear ,but the benefits of the procedure and advantages in dental technology have made it much less ” scary”. Local anesthesia and proper pain medication allow the procedure to be performed with little or no pain in most cases. There may be some soreness following the procedure ,but that is normal for most dental procedures. Over the counter painkillers are usually enough to relieve any pain afterwards. But your dentists may prescribe medication . The procedure will also relive you from pain caused by the infection allowing you to enjoy all the foods you love without any pain from heat, cold ,or biting too hard. If you are experiencing pain consult your dentist today.