| By :
Patricia Strasser
Root canal therapy is a procedure where the nerve and blood vessels of the tooth are totally removed in order to save the decaying tooth. This may be done due to various reasons such as in the presence of abscess, deeply penetrating tooth decay, broken tooth due to trauma, and the likes. The 2 major dental procedures involved are removal of fluid and filling of the cavity. Since this is a complex technique, it requires multiple visits before it can be completed. To be able to understand better what this procedure is all about, here is a brief synopsis of this therapy. What is a root canal The teeth have one or more spaces located at the root of the teeth. It houses the nerve root, which is a sensory organ that conveys signal to and from the brain. Whenever you feel a toothache, it can be due to nerve root affectation. The teeth may contain 1 to 4 canals depending on the kind of teeth; incisor, cuspids or molar. Most people prefer this technique over tooth extraction because of aesthetic reasons. They want to save the tooth instead of wearing dentures or false teeth, which can be very unsightly and uncomfortable at times. How it is performed As mentioned, this is a complicated therapy since several procedures have to be performed. This could be very time-consuming depending on the extent of damage. Below are the step-by-step courses of actions involved in the therapy: Introduce local anesthesia Since this portion is highly vascularized, the pain produced can be very incapacitating. Therefore, it is imperative to apply a local anesthesia, so that the dentist can work out on the deepest portion of the canal without having to bear with pain. Perform dental X-ray Once numbness is felt, X-ray may be taken to see the extent of decay prior to proceeding. It can be repeated anytime within the procedure to ensure that there is complete removal of nerve root. The purpose of which is to prevent recurring pain and infection to occur. Disinfect affected tooth Since the cavity is filled with fluid and bacteria, the dentist applies a solution to disinfect the inside of the tooth. Irrigation is performed to completely get rid of pus and bacteria. A rubber dam is also placed at the base of the tooth to maintain a dry environment. Drill a small hole To expose the root well, a small hole may be drilled, so that the dentist can reach through the farthest end of the canal. Tiny wire-like files are used to remove the fragments of the dead root as well as unhealthy tissues. This is done gradually until such time that the tip is almost reached. By then, it can be ascertained that the nerve is fully eliminated. Fill the cavity When the space is totally cleaned and dried, filling of the hole may now commence to prevent food parcels and other foreign bodies to get inside. In case you have an on-going infection, temporary sealing may be indicated until such time that it has completely healed. Sometimes, small wires are inserted for additional support since the teeth becomes brittle in the absence of blood vessels. Immediately after the root canal therapy, the patient is instructed to take pain relievers as means of protecting self once anesthesia wears off. Antibiotic may also be prescribed to control spread of infection or even prevent its occurrence.
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