Your teeth are subjected to chilled drinks, simmering soups, acidic food, and sugary substances that cling to the crevices in your teeth. In this callous oral cavity environment, having teeth that can last you a lifetime is a daunting task. Your teeth can get decayed, lose bone because of periodontal gum disease, or suffer a traumatic injury because of an accident. These conditions may cause an infection to the underlying pulp tissues.
Root Canal to the Rescue
This is where the root canal comes to the rescue. A root canal is one of the most effective strategies for retaining a diseased tooth. The root canal treatment is also called “endodontic treatment”. Endo means “inside” and odont means “tooth”.
Anatomy Of Tooth
The treatment is crucial if the pulp inside the root canal is infected. It causes pain and even creates an abscess if it is not treated.
A preliminary examination is done to determine if saving the tooth is possible.
Read on to know how the tooth is saved by the endodontic procedure.
The Step By Step Endodontic Process
The procedure requires a couple of visits to the dentist at most. Following are the steps involved in the restoration process of the tooth:
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Examination, X-rays & Local Anesthesia
The tooth is carefully examined and an X-ray is done. Then local anesthesia is administered to numb the tooth and the surrounding gums. It may take a while to get properly anesthetized if the tooth pulp is severely infected.
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Dental Dam
A protective sheet called the “dental dam” is placed on the surrounding area. This is done to isolate the tooth and protect it from saliva during the process.
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Drilling of an Abscess Hole
A tiny opening is drilled on the biting surface of the infected tooth. The abscess gives access to the root canal and pulp chamber, also allowing tiny instruments to pass through.
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Removal of Dead Pulp
Special instruments remove the dead pulp and diseased tissues. The pulp and the canal are cleaned and the surface is shaped for the filling. After the removal of the affected area, the pain subsides.
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Filling of Canals
When the space is cleaned properly, the root canals are filled with a biocompatible substance. A rubber-like substance called “gutta-percha” is used to fill the canal space. It is sealed with the application of heat. It is important to seal so that the area does not get affected again. A temporary filling is done to seal the abscess hole which is removed later on when the crown is being fixed.
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Crown Restoration
The lost tooth structure is replaced with a crown. Your dentist will know which type of restoration is perfect for you to prevent mouth bacteria from contaminating the canal again.
Advanced orthodontic treatments provided by Spring Cypress Dental make use of state-of-the-art tools and machinery. The inflamed pulp is removed and proper cleaning and sealing are done to restore your tooth.