When you have a tooth that has become extremely decayed, it needs to be treated in order to prevent further decay, or tooth loss. Typically, the treatment of tooth decay is to have the cavity filled. If the tooth decay is very serious, a root canal would be necessary.

What's a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure performed by an expert dentist like Elizabeth Kilpatrick-Fox, DMD to save a tooth that is extremely decayed. It is a routine procedure, which does not take long,and the recovery time is short.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

When you are first having problems with a seriously decayed tooth and pain, you need to see the dentist. Your dentist will take a complete history, perform an examination, and take an x-ray of the tooth area. This will help the dentist to determine whether or not a root canal is necessary. Your dentist will also need a list of the medications that you are currently taking. If you are very nervous about the procedure, the dentist will give you an oral sedative or an anti anxiety medication. Your medication list will allow your dentist to determine what medications are safe for you to take. When the problem has been diagnosed, and your medication plan has been made, you will have the procedure done. The root canal procedure is done in several steps.

Step 1

The first step to the root canal is numbing the area. The dentist will use a local anesthesia and inject it into the in the area around the affected tooth. This will keep the tooth and the surrounding tissue numb so that you do not feel pain during the procedure.

Step 2

After local anesthesia begins to work, a dental dam will be applied. A dental dam is a thin sheet of rubber, which separates the tooth being treated from the other. This will ensure a sterile environment, so that the bacteria in the saliva cannot affect the rest of the mouth.

Step 3

A small hole will be drilled to allow the dentist to get access to the pulp chamber and the root canals. The hole is typically drilled through the back or the front of the tooth.

Step 4

The pulp that is infected is removed through the access hole. This is done with special tools made specifically made for this process. As soon as the pulp and the nerves have been removed, the tooth will no longer be able to feel pain.

Step 5

The canals are disinfected with antibacterial and antiseptic solutions. This is done to clear out all of the diseased debris inside of the canals.

Step 6

Flexible instruments are used to shape the canals. This is done so that the fillings and sealants can be applied. Once the canals are shaped, they are cleaned again to remove any excess debris.

Step 7

As long as there is no infection detected within the canals, root canal fillings are used to close up the hole. It is very important to seal the tooth up completely, to avoid bacteria from reentering the canal. If there is an infection present, the dentist will put an antibiotic medication into the hole, and use a temporary sealer. You would wait a week before going back to have the tooth permanently sealed.

Step 8

Because the tooth was so seriously decayed, it may have lost a great deal of its structure. To protect the tooth from weakening further, and breaking, a crown will be placed over the tooth.

Step 9

Before you leave the dentist office, you will likely get a prescription for antibiotics to prevent infection, and a painkiller to relieve the pain when the anesthesia wears off.

What to Expect After a Root Canal

Following your root canal, you should feel some tenderness in the area for a few days. This is normal as your body heals itself. Because you had to keep your mouth open wide during the procedure, you may also feel some pain in the jaw. This pain can be relieved with either prescription or over the counter pain relievers.
When you ask someone “what's a root canal”, they may tell you horror stories. As long as you understand the process, and what to expect, you will realize that it is not as bad a people say.

Author's Bio: 

Stella Brian practices health by visiting dentists of different cities. In her free time she writes health articles and loves to watch movies.