For a dentist, root canal treatment is a term that he or she often uses, but does the person in the dental chair know what will happen during a root canal? Another word for a root canal is nerve treatment. When is a root canal treatment necessary? What is root point inflammation?
The Makeup of a Tooth
A tooth or molar consists of a crown and one or more roots. The part of the root or roots that protrude above the jaw bone, but is covered by gums, is the neck. With recessed gums, you can see the lower part of the crown and later the neck. The crown is made up of an outer layer consisting of sturdy, translucent tooth enamel and an inner layer comprised of less hard dentin. The dentin controls the color of the teeth and molars. The tooth root consists of dentin that is covered with a layer of root cement. Inside the crown and roots is a room where the pulp is. The pulp consists of connective tissue containing: blood vessels, nerves and cells that form dentin.
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment is about removing pulp from the root canal. If the pulp is infected or has died due to the inflammation, the pulp room is drilled open. A thin needle with barbs is used to remove the pulp. With a needle-shaped file, the root canal is cleaned of dead pulp and bacteria. The goal is to get a sterile channel. After all these steps, the root canal is sealed airtight.
When is root canal treatment necessary?
Treatment is necessary in all cases where the pulp is inflamed or possibly infected. In most cases, the pulp is affected by caries, but a root canal treatment can also be done if a large piece of a tooth is broken down and the pulp is exposed. If a dentist starts drilling and there is a lot of dental caries so that the root canal opens up, then root canal treatment is usually required.
Can a root canal treatment always be performed?
No, a root canal treatment cannot always be performed. In case of severe inflammation of the root point, the dentist will usually refer to a dental surgeon for efficient removal of the root of a tooth or molar and the tissue around it. This is also necessary if a root canal treatment fails and inflammation persists. It is also possible that the tooth or molar must be pulled.
Is treatment of the root canal painful?
With an anesthetic, root canal treatment is usually not painful.
How much time does the dentist need for a root canal treatment?
How long the root canal treatment takes depends on the number of root canals. You have to think about a treatment time from thirty minutes to an hour and a half.
Usually a half-year to a year after a root canal treatment, a control photo is made to see if the inflammatory process has stopped.
Root spot inflammation
A root-point inflammation, also called periapical inflammation, is an inflammation of the tissue around the root of a tooth or molar. Inflammation of the root point occurs when caries after the tooth crown also affect the pulp in the root canal and then the root tip. In most cases, someone has no vague complaints. The dentist takes x-rays. Sometimes the inflammation is acute, and then the person has a severe toothache. If the pain becomes even more severe and throbbing, then there is an abscess. It will be examined whether treatment of the root canal is possible. If the inflammation is too strong or a root canal treatment is not successful, a root point operation is performed, or the tooth or molar is pulled.
Learn More about Root Canal Treatments
For more information about the root canal and any other dental treatment, be sure to contact our dentist today. Our friendly team looks forward to meeting you to help with your root canal treatment.