A root canal is a treatment of the infected, dead or inflamed pulp of the tooth. The pulp is a soft substance which consists of the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue. A root canal is treated by a general dentist or an endodontist.
An endodontist has gone through the special training on the root canal treatments. General dentists are qualified to perform root canals but may refer to an endodontist if the tooth is complicated.
Under root canal treatment, the dental pulp is removed and all the canals and pulp chamber of the tooth are filled and sealed to prevent bacteria.
There are many ways that can damage the pulp or nerve of the tooth. It could be a pain in the tooth, infection, dental cavity, fracture or root resorption. You may feel pain or other symptoms in the tooth that shows the need for root canal treatment. Many times there might be no warnings or symptoms.
Root canal therapy is very beneficial that allows saving most of the teeth and use effectively for a long time. Once the teeth are formed, they don’t need pulp for proper functioning. The pulp provides the tooth sensation. It is not required for the tooth to remain functional in a healthy mouth.
The dentist will take an x-ray of the root and perform a pulp vitality test to confirm that a tooth requires root canal treatment. The pulp tests involve placing a cold stimulus on the tooth to check for a healthy response. The other teeth will be tested to compare. If the test confirms the need for root canal therapy, it will be completed in one or two appointments.
The dentist will numb the tooth with local anaesthesia and then place a rubber dam over the tooth.
Saving the natural tooth is the best option and root canal treatment is the right choice. To know more about the procedure, visit Mercado Dental Care.