Root Canals
In the past, teeth with diseased nerves have been removed from the mouth.
However, through a root canal, most of the diseased tooth can be salvaged.
In most cases, the root canal procedure is a simple treatment that involves
little to no patient discomfort.
Within the walls
of each tooth, a strand of dental pulp – the substance that supplies the
tooth with nerves, nutrients, connective tissue and blood vessels – laces
downward into the root. If the dental pulp becomes diseased, the pulp dies,
cutting off the nutrients and nerve signals which the tooth needs to be
healthy. If the diseased pulp is left in the tooth, the tooth will become
infected, forcing it to need extraction.
Root
canals allow the dentist remove the pulp, clean the canal and seal the
tooth, effectively protecting and saving the tooth. After an opening is
created through the crown of the tooth into the dental pulp chamber, the
pulp is removed. The canal is cleaned out, and the pulp chamber is
permanently filled. The dentist will proceed by putting in a temporary
filling. Afterwards, the temporary filling will be replaced with a
permanent filling or a crown, depending on the location of the tooth within
the mouth.
Call Dr. Dulay today to learn more about
the root canal treatment and whether this option is right for you.
