Whether you’ve had the procedure done on your own tooth (or teeth), you’ve likely heard of this common dental procedure. While it’s a very common procedure that many people will need to have performed on a tooth during their lifetime, it’s often a misunderstood dental procedure that comes with a lot of trepidation and dread.

What causes the need for a root canal?

For many people, the moment they hear their dentist mention the need for a root canal fills their mind with dread. There’s no need to feel worried about needing a root canal, however, as it is a comfortable and quick procedure that can actually make your tooth feel better!

When one of your teeth is in need of a root canal, there are a couple of reasons why this procedure may be the best treatment option, and it all has to do with the root of your tooth, just as the name root canal implies.

Inside of the white enamel you can see when examining your own teeth in the mirror, there is a hard layer of the tooth known as dentin. Beneath this layer of dentin, there is soft tissue referred to as the pulp of your tooth. The pulp is in many ways similar to your gums or other soft tissues in your mouth. There are blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues contained within the pulp, and this part of your tooth helps it grow during tooth development as a child. Once your teeth are fully developed, however, the pulp is not necessary to keep your teeth healthy any longer. Despite the fact that it is not needed, however, the soft tissue of the pulp stays within the hard enamel of your tooth protected by the dentin.

Sometimes the pulp of one (or more) of your teeth can become inflamed or infected. This infection is often triggered by external damage to the tooth from physical trauma and injury. If you crack or damage your tooth, even from something as simple as biting a hard bit of food unintentionally, the pulp of your tooth can be exposed to harmful bacteria that can infect it.

Because the pulp is not necessary to keep your teeth healthy once your teeth have developed completely, a root canal is the best treatment to rid your tooth of the infected pulp. During a root canal, your dentist removes the infected and painful pulp from your damaged tooth.

What happens during a root canal?

You may have heard terrible stories and things about root canals performed in yesteryear, but the good news is that modern root canals are relatively comfortable for most people and can save your natural tooth from needing to be replaced. Today, root canals are very similar to a routine tooth filling and are typically completed in one or two appointments depending on the condition of the affected tooth and your personal needs.

The process of getting a root canal is generally straightforward and simple. At G Dental 32, root canals are a common procedure. The first step is to meet with your dentist to determine what is actually causing the pain in your tooth. If your tooth has been damaged, it’s likely that you might need a root canal, but that isn’t always the case. This is why an initial consultation appointment is so important. At this initial appointment, the dentist will examine your teeth to decide whether or not a root canal is right for you. If the dentist decides that you do, in fact, need a root canal, this initial appointment is where we will discuss how to keep you comfortable during the procedure and schedule the actual root canal.

When it comes time for your root canal appointment, your dentist will carefully remove the infected pulp from your damaged tooth. Depending on your circumstances and the severity of your tooth infection, you may be under generalized or local anesthesia for this procedure. Once the pulp is removed from your infected tooth, the space the pulp occupied within your tooth will be sterilized and packed with biocompatible material to prevent any further infection or pain.

What are the benefits of getting a root canal?

The most obvious, and easy to understand, benefit of getting a root canal is that it also gets rid of your pain! Having an infected pulp in your tooth can cause a lot of discomfort when biting down and chewing. Because of this, a root canal will not only get rid of the tooth pain but will improve your appearance and your chewing abilities. Painful chewing will all but disappear once your root canal is performed, so you can start eating all your favorite foods again!

Another benefit of getting a root canal is that it can improve the appearance of the infected tooth. A tooth infection can actually discolor your tooth, so a successful root canal procedure can result in a better-looking tooth once the infection is completely eradicated. 

If you don’t get a root canal on your infected tooth or if the infection becomes too severe, your tooth can sometimes not be saved. Infected teeth might need to be extracted if a root canal procedure is not performed. At G Dental 32, extraction is our last resort, however, and we try to save your teeth whenever we can. The final benefit of a root canal, then, is that we are more likely to be able to save your natural tooth and keep you from experiencing the harmful effects of tooth loss.

When many people hear the words “root canal,” they’re filled with dread. That doesn’t need to be the case, however! Modern root canals are not only relatively comfortable and pain-free procedures, they are also a way to improve the appearance of your smile and relieve the pain you might be experiencing from a damaged and infected tooth. With a root canal from G Dental 32, your dental health and quality of life can be improved dramatically with a simple procedure.