ROOT CANALS

When you think of the words “root canal,” it probably seems scary and painful, but root canals have come a long way in modern times. With new techniques and technology, root canals have evolved into a more comfortable and tolerable treatment. A dentist will perform a root canal to remove bacteria and dead or dying tissue from inside the tooth. The pulp that is inside the tooth becomes infected with the bacteria and without treatment, the infection can cause pain and worsen, which can make it necessary to have the tooth removed. A root canal can stop the infection before it gets to that point.

A root canal treatment is the removal of nerves and blood vessels from the inner canal inside the tooth and the filling in of the space. All of the infected and inflamed tissue comes out, and the filling will go in. The procedure usually requires two visits, one to initially clean out the pulp and apply medication inside the tooth, and the second to finish the filling process. Root canals are a predictable and safe dental procedure that does not cause any long-term damage to the tissues around the tooth. It is more dangerous to leave an infected tooth without a root canal than to receive the root canal itself.