Root Canals
A root canal is a treatment used to save a damaged, injured or infected tooth. In the past, dentists had to pull a tooth once the root became infected. But the root canal procedure prevents that.
Sometimes called endodontic therapy, a root canal can be performed by your regular dentist, or he may refer you to a specialist (an endodontist). Depending on the complexity of the problem tooth, it may require up to three visits to completely perform a root canal and
capping procedure.
When a Root Canal is Needed?
A root canal becomes necessary when the
pulp inside the tooth becomes infected or damaged. The pulp material is normally protected by a layer of dentin inside the tooth, which is further protected by the tooth’s exterior enamel. If a cavity reaches deep enough, or if the layers are degraded by tooth decay, it can expose the pulp to the bacteria in the mouth. A tooth that’s damaged by a crack or another type of injury can also expose the pulp.
Bacteria can lead to the pulp becoming infected. It can cause further problems because the pulp extends from the interior chamber of the tooth down through the roots and into the jawbone. This can ultimately lead to disease in the bone, and when it progresses to that stage, extracting the tooth is often the only option.
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