Why Do We Need Root Canal Therapy?

Many people have to undergo root canal therapy due to the death of the nerve, which is in the interior hollow portion of the tooth. The tooth is hollow when it erupts and contains nerve tissue, blood vessels and cells which deposit calcium on the inside of the pulp chamber and in the extension of the pulp chamber along the roots. A tooth can die for a number of reasons. One is deep decay, this is potentially the most serious as it can lead to infection and requires immediate treatment, combined with anti-biotics, to fight infection. A tooth that is subject to a heavy blow can die as a consequence, it is not infected;but, the body will send white blood cells to rid the tooth of dead or dying tissue. The end of the root will become engorged with blood causing an abscess which is painful.

A popular myth is that having a root canal procedure is a nightmare, in the sense that the overwhelming pain from the dying nerve, pulp or tooth itself can’t be resolved by any dental procedures. This has been disproved countless times by the patients themselves, a majority of which felt immediate relief at the time of the procedure. While others may feel discomfort afterwards, the reason for this is because of neglect of the pain that may have severed the damage on the pulp, nerve or cavity.

A root canal procedure may only mean one of four things:

Tooth decay has obliterated the outer shell of the tooth (enamel), making its way into the dentin, and finally into the pulp itself. This causes severe, blistering pain that often leads to headaches and feverish attacks.

The tooth has become infected and decayed largely because of negligent oral hygiene. This infection causes the secretion of abscess or pus inside the cavity, surrounded by inflamed tissue.

The exposure of the nerves of the tooth, caused by unattended cracks, chipped portions and sills.

Because of a past accident, the tooth, because of natural reasons (aging), trauma or outside exposure to the elements, ages quickly and is in the brink of death.

Root canal therapy is not a lifelong procedure. The therapy itself can be finished in one to three treatments, depending on the severity of the damage. An experienced dentist, specializing in root canal therapy, is called an endodontist. In order to fix this problem, the root canal will be performed by the dentist. The procedure begins with the dentist numbing the area before drilling a hole into the tooth. Then inside the tooth, the dentist will scrape away the dead pulp and the nerves. More at Ivy Rose Family Dentistry.