Why a Root Canal is Necessary

Root canals are often feared and misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, the root canal procedure does not remove the root of the tooth from your mouth. Instead, the treatment is used to save a tooth with a dying nerve. Symptoms frequently include throbbing, constant pain; pain to temperature that lingers for minutes or hours;  and [...] The post Why a Root Canal is Necessary appeared first on Doyle Dental.

Root canals are often feared and misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, the root canal procedure does not remove the root of the tooth from your mouth. Instead, the treatment is used to save a tooth with a dying nerve.

Symptoms frequently include throbbing, constant pain; pain to temperature that lingers for minutes or hours;  and inability to sleep.  You might also experience facial swelling or a fistula, which is a pimple on the gum.

There are several reasons that the nerve in the tissue can become infected, including trauma (a hard hit to the tooth), a large cavity to the nerve, or a fractured tooth that exposes the nerve.  A root canal should not be a painful procedure if the patient is adequately anesthetized (numb).  The procedure for a root canal involves drilling a hole in the top of the tooth, removing the infected nerve with chemicals and files, and filling the root with a rubber like material.

Patients frequently wonder about why they need a root canal, often asking, “Why can’t I just take antibiotics to get rid of the infection?” Root canal treatment is necessary to save a tooth with a damaged or infected nerve—the only other treatment is  extraction. Antibiotics are sometimes used in addition to root canal treatment but can’t be used on their own.  Using antibiotics without removing the source of the infection (dead blood vessels, tissue and nerve) will only provide temporary relief—and the infection will return.  When the infection returns, antibiotics will be less effective.

If you begin to experience any of the symptoms listed above call your dentist immediately.  See your dentist every six months for an exam and cleaning—don’t wait until something hurts.

The post Why a Root Canal is Necessary appeared first on Doyle Dental.