First of all, lets get the big one out of the way: ROOT CANALS ARE NOT PAINFUL. They got the reputation (similarly to pulling a tooth) of being painful back in the days where dental anesthesia products did not work as well as today. Today, we can make teeth 100% numb so the actual procedure itself is just as comfortable as getting a cleaning.
WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL: A root canals is a procedure where the dentist will removed all nerve and vessel tissue from the center and roots of the teeth so it will not be able to feel pain anymore. The dentist will also clean out all the tooth walls on the inside to make sure that theres no bacteria left clinging on the inside. Finally he will put a filling material that will appear white on xrays.
WHY DO I NEED A ROOT CANAL: The most common reason why you need a root canal is your tooth is infected. When a cavity becomes big enough, the bacteria have dug their way to the center of the tooth where the nerve lives which will cause a LOT of pain. However after some time the bacteria will take over the inside of the tooth and it will die, where it becomes a full blown infection. Often times you will notice no pain because the nerve has died. However, after enough bacteria grow, it will create an abscess (or pus pocket) which will cause pain once more and spread to other locations in the body!
There is one case where a tooth infection actually killed a 12 yr old boy so Root Canals can save lives!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/27/AR2007022702116.html
Other FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
- After getting a root canal, front teeth tend to turn grey because they have lost blood supply
-After getting a root canal, back teeth are typically vulnerable to breaking, so crowns are always placed.
-Mild discomfort between treatment appointments or after treatment is not unusual but you are less likely to have it if you're tooth wasn't completely dead before the dentist started treatment. It is almost always temporary.
-Root canals on teeth further back are significantly more difficult and more expensive.
- Material used to fill the root canal is similar to the material inside of a golf ball!
Good post! Thanks for sharing this information I appreciate it. God bless!
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One of my friends needs to have a root canal done. He is scared of the dentist, so it is going to be a hard procedure for him. He is trying to find the best dentist in his area. His thinking is that the best dentist will be able to do the procedure as painlessly as possible. http://www.washingtontownshipdental.com/services/endodontics
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such interesting information on Root Canal therapy facts and fiction. If a tooth’s pulp is injured, damaged, or infected, the nerve within the pulp will die and, unless endodontic treatment (root canal) is performed, the tooth may die as well. Our dentist recommend to preserve the dental structure which provide strength for chewing.
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Root canal is most commonly done dental procedure. The cost of root canaling is not so low actually, it is expensive even with the insurance. So I always prefer dental discount plans AZ to get more discount and to get affordable dental care.
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