Once upon a time, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you would probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called a root canal therapy you may save that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, and it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don’t remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger.
Does it hurt?
Root canal procedures have the reputation of being painful. However, it is actually a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one or two visits. In fact, most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling placed.
For the first few days after a root canal, the tooth may feel sensitive to pressure and chewing. This is normal and can be controlled with over the counter medications like ibuprofen. Most patients can resume normal activities the next day or even the same day.
And the best thing about a root canal? It can save your tooth and your smile!
Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com
Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
May 25, 2010
Sources: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-root-canals
http://www.ada.org/3037.aspx?currentTab=1
