A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the center of the tooth. The tooth's nerve lies within root canals, which lie within the roots or "legs" of the tooth. The root canals travel from the tip of the tooth's root into the pulp chamber, which also contains blood vessels and connective tissue that nourish the tooth.
The pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, filled and sealed.
A crown is placed on top of the seal .Why does the pulp need to be removed? When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth. In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause:
Swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head Bone loss around the tip of the root Drainage problems extending outward from the root. A hole can occur through the side of the tooth with drainage into the gums or through the cheek with drainage into the skin. What damages a tooth's nerve and pulp in the first place? Nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
What are the signs that a root canal is needed? Sometimes no symptoms are present; however, signs to look for include:
Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed) Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums What happens during the procedure? A root canal requires one or more office visits and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the human dental pulp or the nerve of the tooth. The choice of which type of dentist to use depends to some degree on the difficulty of the root canal procedure needed in your particular tooth and the general dentist's comfort level in working on your tooth. Your dentist will discuss who might be best suited to perform the work in your particular case.
Part of the crown and dentin is removed and shaped. Your dentist may place a temporary filling in the tooth or keep it open and allow it to drain. .The first step in the procedure is to take an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection in a surrounding bone. Your dentist or endodontist will then use local anesthesia to numb the area near the tooth. Anesthesia may not be necessary, since the nerve is dead, but most dentists still anesthetize the area to make the patient more relaxed and at ease.
Next, to keep the area dry and free of saliva during treatment, your dentist will place a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) around the tooth.
An access hole will then be drilled into the tooth. The pulp, along with bacteria, the decayed nerve tissue, and related debris, is removed from the tooth. The cleaning out process is accomplished using root canal files. A series of these files of increasing diameter are each subsequently placed into the access hole and worked down the full length of the tooth to scrape and scrub the sides of the root canals. Water or sodium hypochlorite is used periodically to flush away the debris.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. Some dentists like to wait a week before sealing the tooth. For instance, if there is an infection, your dentist may put a medication inside the tooth to clear it up. Others may choose to seal the tooth the same day it is cleaned out. If the root canal is not completed on the same day, a temporary filling is placed in the exterior hole in the tooth to keep contaminants out between appointments.
At the next appointment, to fill the interior of the tooth, a sealer paste and a rubber compound called gutta percha are placed into the tooth's root canal. To fill the exterior access hole created at the beginning of treatment, a filling is placed.
The final step may involve further restoration of the tooth. Because a tooth that needs a root canal often is one that has a large filling or extensive decay or other weakness, a crown, crown and post, or other restoration often needs to be placed on the tooth to protect it, prevent it from breaking, and restore it to full function. Your dentist will discuss the need for any additional dental work with you.
Common Reasons for Root Canals The tiny canals contain the pulp of the tooth also commonly referred to as the nerve, which originates from the pulp chamber. Any trauma or infection of the nerve will result in the need for root canal therapy. Common reasons for root canal therapy include:
•Tooth decay invades the tooth, penetrating through the enamel and then the dentin in to the pulp.
•A tooth has become abscessed -- also known as infected -- from decay.
•Trauma, such as a chipped or broken tooth, occurs and results in the exposure of the nerve.
•A tooth is slowly dying, due to aging or past trauma that did not result in the need for treatment at the time of injury.
How Is Root Canal Therapy Performed? Root canal therapy can be preformed in single or multiple visits. Before the procedure, though, your dentist will advise you as to the number of appointments necessary to complete the canal. If you had an infection or abscess in the tooth, the dentist may choose to have you start antibiotics before completing the root canal. Your dentist will begin the appointment by giving you local anesthetic to "numb" the tooth that is being worked on.
After your tooth is "numb", you may expect the following procedures:
•A dental x-ray of the tooth, displaying the entire tooth in the film (called a "periapical x-ray"), is taken for the dentist to refer to during the procedure.
•The dentist will place a rubber dam over your mouth. This plastic shield, made from either latex or nonlatex materials, is used to keep the tooth isolated from your saliva and very dry before the final steps are taken to complete the procedure. The dentist will use different chemical solutions to disinfect the inside of the tooth. The rubber dam is helpful in keeping these solutions from entering your mouth.
•Next, the dentist will begin the procedure by drilling a small hole through the tooth in to the area known as the pulp chamber -- this is where the nerve of the tooth is located.
•Your dentist will begin using tiny files, which are designed to remove the nerve from the tooth and any infected tissue. Certain files can be used by hand; others are connected to a slower moving dental hand piece, called a "rotary instrument." The dentist may require another x-ray at this point to determine the length of the root. It is critical that the entire nerve is removed to prevent toothaches after the procedure and re-infection of the tooth, which would result in the need for retreatment or extraction of the tooth. In order to prevent this, the dentist needs to get as close to the tip, or apex of the tooth, to remove all of the nerve. This is usually the longest part of the procedure.
•Once the dentist is confident that the entire tooth has been cleaned out, the tooth is dried with tiny absorbent paper points. When completely dry, the dentist will place a material (called "gutta percha") in to the tooth. Gutta percha is a rubber material designed to seal the inside of the tooth.
•Your dentist will remove any remaining decay from the tooth and will decide to either put a temporary filling on to close the tooth or proceed with placing a permanent filling. If your root canal is performed by an endodontist; a dentist that specializes in root canals, he will place a temporary restoration and send you back to your general dentist for the restoration. Chances are, your dentist will recommend having a crown put on to the tooth. Since the nerve and blood supply to the tooth has been taken away, the tooth may become brittle over time, resulting in a cracked tooth. A crown is designed to prevent this from happening.
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
ReplyDeleteThe pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the center of the tooth. The tooth's nerve lies within root canals, which lie within the roots or "legs" of the tooth. The root canals travel from the tip of the tooth's root into the pulp chamber, which also contains blood vessels and connective tissue that nourish the tooth.
The pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, filled and sealed.
A crown is placed on top of the seal
.Why does the pulp need to be removed?
When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth. In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause:
Swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head
Bone loss around the tip of the root
Drainage problems extending outward from the root. A hole can occur through the side of the tooth with drainage into the gums or through the cheek with drainage into the skin.
What damages a tooth's nerve and pulp in the first place?
Nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
What are the signs that a root canal is needed?
ReplyDeleteSometimes no symptoms are present; however, signs to look for include:
Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure
Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums
A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
What happens during the procedure?
A root canal requires one or more office visits and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the human dental pulp or the nerve of the tooth. The choice of which type of dentist to use depends to some degree on the difficulty of the root canal procedure needed in your particular tooth and the general dentist's comfort level in working on your tooth. Your dentist will discuss who might be best suited to perform the work in your particular case.
Part of the crown and dentin is removed and shaped. Your dentist may place a temporary filling in the tooth or keep it open and allow it to drain.
.The first step in the procedure is to take an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection in a surrounding bone. Your dentist or endodontist will then use local anesthesia to numb the area near the tooth. Anesthesia may not be necessary, since the nerve is dead, but most dentists still anesthetize the area to make the patient more relaxed and at ease.
Next, to keep the area dry and free of saliva during treatment, your dentist will place a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) around the tooth.
An access hole will then be drilled into the tooth. The pulp, along with bacteria, the decayed nerve tissue, and related debris, is removed from the tooth. The cleaning out process is accomplished using root canal files. A series of these files of increasing diameter are each subsequently placed into the access hole and worked down the full length of the tooth to scrape and scrub the sides of the root canals. Water or sodium hypochlorite is used periodically to flush away the debris.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. Some dentists like to wait a week before sealing the tooth. For instance, if there is an infection, your dentist may put a medication inside the tooth to clear it up. Others may choose to seal the tooth the same day it is cleaned out. If the root canal is not completed on the same day, a temporary filling is placed in the exterior hole in the tooth to keep contaminants out between appointments.
At the next appointment, to fill the interior of the tooth, a sealer paste and a rubber compound called gutta percha are placed into the tooth's root canal. To fill the exterior access hole created at the beginning of treatment, a filling is placed.
The final step may involve further restoration of the tooth. Because a tooth that needs a root canal often is one that has a large filling or extensive decay or other weakness, a crown, crown and post, or other restoration often needs to be placed on the tooth to protect it, prevent it from breaking, and restore it to full function. Your dentist will discuss the need for any additional dental work with you.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/dental_care/hic_root_canal.aspx
Common Reasons for Root Canals
ReplyDeleteThe tiny canals contain the pulp of the tooth also commonly referred to as the nerve, which originates from the pulp chamber. Any trauma or infection of the nerve will result in the need for root canal therapy. Common reasons for root canal therapy include:
•Tooth decay invades the tooth, penetrating through the enamel and then the dentin in to the pulp.
•A tooth has become abscessed -- also known as infected -- from decay.
•Trauma, such as a chipped or broken tooth, occurs and results in the exposure of the nerve.
•A tooth is slowly dying, due to aging or past trauma that did not result in the need for treatment at the time of injury.
How Is Root Canal Therapy Performed?
Root canal therapy can be preformed in single or multiple visits. Before the procedure, though, your dentist will advise you as to the number of appointments necessary to complete the canal. If you had an infection or abscess in the tooth, the dentist may choose to have you start antibiotics before completing the root canal. Your dentist will begin the appointment by giving you local anesthetic to "numb" the tooth that is being worked on.
After your tooth is "numb", you may expect the following procedures:
•A dental x-ray of the tooth, displaying the entire tooth in the film (called a "periapical x-ray"), is taken for the dentist to refer to during the procedure.
•The dentist will place a rubber dam over your mouth. This plastic shield, made from either latex or nonlatex materials, is used to keep the tooth isolated from your saliva and very dry before the final steps are taken to complete the procedure. The dentist will use different chemical solutions to disinfect the inside of the tooth. The rubber dam is helpful in keeping these solutions from entering your mouth.
•Next, the dentist will begin the procedure by drilling a small hole through the tooth in to the area known as the pulp chamber -- this is where the nerve of the tooth is located.
•Your dentist will begin using tiny files, which are designed to remove the nerve from the tooth and any infected tissue. Certain files can be used by hand; others are connected to a slower moving dental hand piece, called a "rotary instrument." The dentist may require another x-ray at this point to determine the length of the root. It is critical that the entire nerve is removed to prevent toothaches after the procedure and re-infection of the tooth, which would result in the need for retreatment or extraction of the tooth. In order to prevent this, the dentist needs to get as close to the tip, or apex of the tooth, to remove all of the nerve. This is usually the longest part of the procedure.
•Once the dentist is confident that the entire tooth has been cleaned out, the tooth is dried with tiny absorbent paper points. When completely dry, the dentist will place a material (called "gutta percha") in to the tooth. Gutta percha is a rubber material designed to seal the inside of the tooth.
•Your dentist will remove any remaining decay from the tooth and will decide to either put a temporary filling on to close the tooth or proceed with placing a permanent filling. If your root canal is performed by an endodontist; a dentist that specializes in root canals, he will place a temporary restoration and send you back to your general dentist for the restoration. Chances are, your dentist will recommend having a crown put on to the tooth. Since the nerve and blood supply to the tooth has been taken away, the tooth may become brittle over time, resulting in a cracked tooth. A crown is designed to prevent this from happening.
http://dentistry.about.com/od/factsandfaqs/f/rootcanal.htm