Root Canals
A root canal is the central cavity of every tooth that contains the dental pulp. The pulp comprises the blood vessels and nerves that provide nourishment to the tooth and enables its sensation. The pulp could get infected due to causes such as cavities, external trauma, gum diseases, etc. This can lead to quite a severe oral condition called a root canal infection.
Symptoms of root canal infection
-
The release of pus from the gums due to decay of tissues
-
Bleeding gums
-
The infected tooth may appear duller in color compared to the adjoining teeth
-
Whenever you bite or chew food, it may result in a sharp pain
-
The infected tooth may loosen from its socket due to jawbone deterioration
-
Due to the decay of tissues and the release of pus, bad breath would intensify.
How is root canal therapy performed?
The last resort dental procedure to save a severely infected tooth is through root canal therapy. The infected tooth will be cleaned thoroughly, and a rubber dam will be placed on it. The dentist makes a small hole on the infected tooth and extracts the decayed pulp through it. We use dental files of varying sizes for this purpose. A jet of water will be used along with it to clear out the debris, scrubbed off the walls of the root canal. The hole will be sealed off with a suitable filling material after a small amount of medication is placed in the root canal cavity.
Restoration
After the dental pulp is removed from the tooth, it will not have any source of nutrition. Hence, it tends to become weak over time. When you bite or chew food, the tooth may crack or crumble under the forces. Therefore, it is recommended that you get the tooth restored using a dental crown. The dentist will take a highly precise mold of the tooth and fabricate a crown according to its size and contour.