What is a Root Canal?

Root canals are often portrayed as very negative and painful dental experiences. However, with modern dentistry, they are performed with an anesthetic and with minimal damage to the tooth, making it relatively painless. Root canal procedures are used to repair badly decayed or infected teeth. This is accomplished by removing the nerve and pulp on the interior of the affected tooth, and then cleaning and sealing it.

You should see a dentist to find it if a root canal may be right for you if you experience:

• Intense or throbbing pain while biting or chewing
• Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold
• Severe decay or an infection in the bone

Infected / Inflamed Pulp Tissue

The pulp is a soft area located inside the root canal of a tooth. This pulp can become infected, and if left untreated can progress to a multitude of a other oral health issues. The process of removing this infected area is often referred to as a ‘root canal’ but is actually called a pulpectomy. These procedures used to mean the complete removal of a tooth, though nowadays a pulpectomy disinfects and refills the area to limit pain and damage.

The Pulpectomy Procedure

After the tooth is completely anesthetized, a hole is drilled down into the pulp. The dentist will then use a number of instruments to extract the affected pulp and thoroughly disinfect the area. The interior of the tooth is then filled with a dense material to help prevent any further decay.