What is a Root Canal?
The natural cavity within the center of the tooth is known as your “root canal”. Your tooth’s nerve lies within the root canal. Root Canal Treatment is a type of dental procedure used to repair and save a decaying or infected tooth. During this procedure, the pulp and nerve are removed and the inside of the tooth is then cleaned and sealed. If left untreated, the tissue surrounding the tooth can become infected and abscesses can form.
Why does the tooth pulp have to be removed?
When a tooth’s pulp or nerve tissue is damaged, it starts to break down and bacteria will start to increase within the pulp chamber. These bacteria can lead to an infection or an abscessed tooth. Essentially, an abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the tooth’s roots. An abscess forms when bacteria spreads all the way past the ends of the tooth’s roots. Aside from an abscess, an infection in the root canal can also cause:
- Bone loss around the root tip
- Swelling that may spread to other areas of the head, neck, or face
- Drainage problems. A hole may form through the tooth’s side with drainage into the gums.
What happens during root canal treatment? How many visits does it require?
First and foremost, our dentist at Carrollton Family Dental will take an x-ray to view the shape of the root canals. They will use this x-ray to check for signs of infection in the surrounding bone. Once infection has been identified, root canal treatment will be performed. During treatment, the dentist may use local anesthesia to numb the area near your tooth. Next, the dentist will drill an access hole into the tooth. The pulp, along with the decayed nerve tissues and bacteria, will then be extricated from the tooth. A root canal file will be used for the cleaning out process. A root canal treatment may require one or more visit.
Get in Touch
Contact us at 972-212-6225 to set an appointment. You may also contact us if you have any other inquiries or concerns.