Published: 09/11/2019
A root canal is a dental procedure that all of us are most likely familiar with and most of us fear. Root canals seem daunting and most people avoid this procedure at all costs. What most do not know is that root canals are a very common procedure these days, and is one of the only procedures that help to save the tooth! Root canals save the tooth by removing the dead or dying pulp. The pulp exists inside of the tooth and can spread if it isn’t taken care of. The tissue in the pulp is kept alive by the blood vessels that come from the tip of the root and travel along the root canal into the tooth.
Decay is the main reason for pulp in the tooth dying. Once the decay has reached the pulp, it will keep eating away until the pulp has died. Once it dies, the toxins from the decay will be released into the root tip and make its way into the jawbone. Knowing this is why many people dread root canals, except without the procedure being done, decay keeps on occurring. If not taken care of properly, the jawbone can become infected, which can lead to death in very rare cases. When the jawbone becomes infected, you could risk losing pieces of your jaw, requiring grafting.
The solve to this problem is having a root canal preformed. Your dentist during this procedure will numb the area then drill a hole into the tooth. Using various tools and equipment, they will go down inside of the tooth and scrape away the nerves and dead pulp. This is a very effective procedure, although very time consuming as well. In most cases, a root canal can take several hours. Even though it may take a long time – it is more than worth it when it saves your tooth from being extracted.
Don’t be afraid of receiving a root canal if your dentist makes the decision you would benefit from one. Root canal’s save your teeth! Consult with your doctor if they think you are in need of a root canal.
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