The truth about root canals

Would you rather have a root canal than do something unpleasant? Be careful what you wish for.
Oct. 7, 2009 | By: The Health Local Staff

You often hear people say things like, “I’d rather have a root canal than do THAT!” But do they really know what a root canal is before they start throwing around the phrase?

A dentist will perform a root canal on a tooth with an infected nerve so you can keep the tooth rather than having it pulled out. Keeping the tooth has many benefits; including helping prevent your other teeth from drifting out of line and causing jaw problems.

The process of root canal (also known as endodontic treatment) is when the dentist removes infected, injured or dead pulp from the tooth. When bacteria enters your tooth through deep cavities, cracks or flawed fillings, the tooth can become abscessed (an infection of the pulp inside the tooth.)

How it’s done

A root canal starts with your dentist giving you a local anaesthetic (freezing), then placing a rubber dam around the tooth being treated. He or she will make an opening in the tooth to reach the damaged pulp, and using very fine instruments, removed the pulp and enlarges your root canal system. After that’s done, the dentist can fill and seal the canal, then seal the tooth’s opening.

Then, after the root canal treatment, your tooth has to be fixed to look, feel and work as much like a natural tooth as possible.  Your dentist may use a permanent filling or a crown to restore your tooth, depending on the strength of the part of the tooth that is left.

But beware, you can still get a cavity or gum disease after a root canal treatment.  A root canal treatment doesn’t protect your tooth from other types of damage. Remember that with proper care and regular dental visits, the tooth could last as long as your other teeth. Most of the time, a tooth that has had a root canal treatment can be saved. However, there are cases where everything possible has been done to save a tooth and still the tooth must be extracted (pulled).

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