A survey a few years back had an interesting result. 78 percent of the people contacted by the American Association of Endodontists said that they would rather have a root canal than the flu. Slowly but surely, the bad reputation attached to the procedure known as the root canal seems to be disappearing. And it’s a good thing, too. While root canals have gotten a bad rap over the years, it has been the root canal that has saved many teeth.
The pulp of your tooth contains the nerves and the blood vessels your tooth needs to remain healthy. If that pulp is injured or infected due to a trauma to your tooth or due to decay, an infection can spread to your jaw, and an abscess can develop. Not only is this condition very unhealthy for your jaws, your mouth and your body as a whole, it is extremely painful.
Before the advent of the root canal, a tooth with compromised pulp would have been extracted. However, with a root canal, the pulp can be removed and the structure of the tooth left intact to support a crown.
Your dentist will access the pulp with a small drill, and then removed the diseased pulp. Afterward, he will clean the root chamber with antiseptic to make sure the bacteria has been neutralized. The dentist will enlarge the chamber and insert a material called gutta percha which will take the place of the pulp. Then the dentist will place a temporary seal on your tooth and set an appointment to check your progress and discuss placing a crown.If you notice persistent pain, or experience swelling, nausea, vomiting , a fever or shaking, contact your dentist right away.
If you have a tooth that has been giving you problems, don’t delay in setting up a time to see our dentist, Dr. Josh Gosnell. If you live in the Tomball, Texas area, call 281.290.8000 today to set up an appointment.