Although many people have heard of root canals, few know exactly what they involve and why they are necessary. If your dentist has asked you to schedule a root canal, you likely have many questions. Here is everything you need to know about root canals Mississauga.
What to Expect
Your dentist will confirm that you need a root canal by looking for signs of infection in your tooth. This involves an examination and an X-ray.
The root canal procedure requires drilling down through the tooth into the middle of the root. This is full of pulp, which contains the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Although the pulp is necessary when the tooth is developing, teeth no longer need pulp when they mature.
Once your dentist has access to the pulp, he or she can remove the infected tissue. Your dentist will then fill the canal with gutta-percha and seal the opening with a temporary filling.
You will return for a second visit to replace the filling with a permanent crown to restore the tooth. If your tooth cannot hold the crown in place, your dentist may install a post inside the tooth.
Reasons for Root Canals
Pulp can become infected for a number of reasons, including decay that extends through the tooth, damage to the tooth, or multiple dental procedures. You can even suffer an infection if you suffer an impact to the face and there is no visible damage to the tooth. Infections often make themselves known by pain, sensitivity to temperature, tenderness, swelling, and discolouration of the tooth.
How Does a Root Canal Help?
Apart from instantly releasing you from pain, a root canal may be able to save your tooth. It will also stop the infection from spreading to other teeth or other areas of the body.
