What is a Root Canal?

Sterling Dental Center • April 26, 2019
root canal

Root canal can be a really scary phrase for people, but in reality, it does not need to be a scary idea or a scary procedure. Millions of people have root canals every year.

At Sterling Dental Center , we recommend root canalswhen a patient comes in with infected or inflamed soft tissue inside of their tooth. If we leave these infections, it can become very painful or ultimately become an abscess. We want to prevent the teeth from getting worse.

Within your tooth, you have a layer of enamel and then a layer of dentin and then underneath all of that is pulp, a soft tissue. Pulp contains blood vessels and connective tissue, whish is why your tooth’s root grows. If your tooth is fully developed, it can survive without the pulp.

When you have an infection within your soft tissue, you may experience some of these symptoms:

  • General pain
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
  • Pain when chewing
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Tenderness in the gums

However, it is also common to experience no symptoms. This is why regular checkups and cleanings are so vital, we can thoroughly check your teeth to see if there are any hidden issues.

Once it has been established that there is an infection and you need a root canal, the dentist or endodontist, will remove the infected soft issue. They then clean out and shape the root canal before filling and sealing it. After, you get a crown on the tooth to protect it and help your tooth resume its normal function.

One of the biggest benefits of a root canal is that it saves your tooth! Not only that, but your tooth will continue to function as a regular tooth. It looks natural, chews regularly, bites normally, and even feels sensation.

A root canal is actually not much more complicated than a routine filling and can be done in one or two appointments. There is minimal pain and you get the benefit of keeping your tooth!

If you are having unexplained tooth pain, call Sterling Dental Center today to schedule an appointment. We’d love to get down to the root of the problem.