Root Canal
What is a root canal?
A root canal is when the nerve inside a tooth is cleaned out and replaced with a special type of filling. There are several reasons why a root canal needs to be done. The most common cause is a tooth ache from a cavity. Trauma to a tooth, such as being hit, can cause the nerve to die and require a root canal. A tooth's nerve can also become infected by a deep cavity or die from trauma without pain. If the root canal is not done, infection from the tooth can cause swelling and destruction of surrounding bone.
Does it hurt?
Anesthesia is used to get the tooth numb. When a person waits too long to get a root canal, infection can make the tooth harder to get numb. The longer one waits the greater the chance of discomfort.
How is a root canal done?
An opening is made through the top of the tooth:
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Instruments are used to clean out the nerve:
Then the root canal space is filled with a filling:
Another filling is placed in the opening on the top of the tooth:
After a root canal, a tooth needs a crown. Because an opening was made through the top of the tooth, the tooth is much weaker and can break or fracture. If a tooth fractures, it maybe more difficult to fix or possibly require extraction.
A useful analogy is an unopen can of soda. It is very hard to crush. But once the can is opened, it can be easily deformed. The filling in the tooth that was just placed only fills up the hole that was made, it does not strengthen the tooth. A crown surrounds the tooth protecting it.
