Root Canals – Something So Good Gets a Really Bad Rap

Root Canals – Something So Good Gets a Really Bad Rap

The negative connotations around root canal therapy are unfortunate, since this procedure can actually improve your comfort and better your oral health. If your tooth becomes cracked, decayed, or otherwise damaged and bacteria infect its inner pulp (nerves and blood vessels), the diseased tissue will need to be removed to clean and protect the tooth—this is root canal therapy. Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with root canal, or endodontic treatment.  Remember, root canal treatment doesn’t cause pain, it relieves it.

Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, and helps to grow the root of your tooth during development. In a fully developed tooth, the tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?

Root canal or endodontic treatment—treatment done to the inside of the tooth—is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, faulty crowns, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, trauma to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

During root canal or endodontic treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Afterwards, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Saving the natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages:

Efficient chewing

Normal biting force and sensation

Natural appearance

Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain

As opposed to jokes about the matter, modern endodontic treatment is very similar to having a routine filling and usually can be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances. You can expect a comfortable experience during and after your appointment.

Source: American Association of Endodontists (AAE.org)