At Dental Care of Fremont, a root canal is a procedure used to treat infection or inflammation of the dental pulp. This treatment is used to save teeth that are infected and might otherwise need to be removed. The dental pulp is the soft area inside your tooth containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. The pulp may become inflamed or infected due to tooth decay, repeated dental procedures, or a crack or chip in the tooth. During a root canal procedure, the pulp is removed, and the area is sterilized to prepare it for a filling or crown. Often, a dental crown is the best choice to protect the tooth after complete treatment. While root canals are incredibly beneficial, they may feel intimidating to patients because they involve removing the inside of the tooth before it can be restored. However, modern dentistry has made this process much more comfortable.
What Causes the Need for Root Canal Treatment?
If you have an infection or inflammation inside a tooth, the pulp inside the tooth can become damaged and infected. Eating hot or cold foods and drinks can result in pain. If the infection continues without treatment, it can lead to an abscessed tooth. An abscess is a collection of pus in the gums around the tooth's root, which can cause swelling, pressure, and pain in the area. A dentist must remove the infection from the tooth before anything further can be done. If left untreated, the infection can spread and cause more problems. Once the dentist removes the infection, they typically recommend replacing the diseased or damaged tooth with a dental crown or other restoration option.
The Root Canal Procedure
The root canal treatment begins with your dentist numbing the area surrounding the tooth with a local anesthetic and placing a dental dam to isolate it and keep it free of saliva during the treatment. Your dentist then drills a small hole into the top of the tooth down to the pulp chamber, creating an opening for the specialized tools that will be used to remove the diseased tissue from the tooth’s interior. These instruments are shaped to maximize their effectiveness in the tight spaces of a root canal, making them finer and more delicate than those found in a standard dental office.
Once the infected part of the tooth has been removed, your dentist will clean the canals of the tooth and the pulp chamber using small files before filling them with an inert material called gutta-percha. A dental crown is placed over the tooth to restore its function and shape and strengthen its overall structure.
The benefits of root canal treatment are numerous and unmatched by other treatments, making it the premier option for saving teeth that are severely decayed or infected. If you are experiencing pain and discomfort from an infected tooth, visit Dental Care of Fremont at 43195 Mission Blvd # B4, Fremont, CA 94539, or call (510) 651-8479.
