What is a Root Canal
Root canal therapy greenville sc is the treatment of the pulp inside the root of your tooth. An endodontist is a dental specialist who performs this procedure which takes between 30 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on the number of canals and the extent of the infection.
Our teeth have multiple layers, the outermost being the enamel and the innermost is the pulp. The tooth pulp is housed inside the canals that make up the root of the tooth. It is the nerve and blood flow of each tooth which can become infected by decay and bacteria. A root canal therapy treatment removes the damaged pulp to relieve pain and eradicate infection which can save a tooth that may otherwise be at risk of extraction.
A patient may require a root canal therapy if a tooth has extensive decay, becomes fractured, or if a tooth is otherwise damaged. An infection can develop in the pulp even years after a tooth is affected. Without treatment, an abscess can form at the tip of the route in the job bone and cause a painful build-up of pus and fluid.
How is a root canal therapy procedure performed?
Root canal therapy treatment is a simple process that can usually be completed in one visit, the severe cases and teeth with multiple canals could require two visits.
An endodontist will perform an evaluation of the tooth and question with a number of tests to determine if root canal therapy is the best form of treatment. If it is determined that the patient would benefit from root canal therapy, the endodontist will drill a small access hole To reach the canals. Small cylindrical files are used to clean out the canals and remove the infected pulp from the truth. The canals are cleaned and irrigated and an antimicrobial agent is placed into the canals to protect them from reinfection.
Once the canals are clean and disinfected, a rubbery material called gutta-percha is used to fill in the empty canals and a temporary filling is placed in the access hole to keep the tooth clean and protect it from damage until your dentist can place a permanent restoration.
After your root canal therapy treatment, your general dentist will remove the temporary filling and gutta-percha and place a permanent material in the canals and cover it with either a composite filling or a porcelain crown. If you require root canal therapy treatment on a tooth that already had a porcelain crown, the endodontist will simply drill through the crown as carefully as they can to save the crown. Sometimes, the crown may crack during treatment and you will require a new one.
How long will a root canal therapy treated tooth restoration last?
It is always important to maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups. A tooth that was treated with root canal therapy can easily last the rest of your life. It is possible for a root canal treated to youth to still develop decay and since the tooth does not have blood flow or nerves, you may not experience any symptoms. Your dentist will be able to identify decay dying your regular visits with dental x-rays. A root canal treated tooth can also become brittle over time so even if, at the time of treatment, your tooth is restored with a composite filling, you may eventually require a porcelain crown to ensure the integrity of the tooth.
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