What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure used to remove a decayed or damaged tooth root. The root is in the center of the tooth and is a soft tissue with the consistency of fiber. The root can become damaged or diseased for many reasons. A dentist will try other treatment methods to repair the damaged root first, but it may become necessary for your dentist to remove the root using the root canal dayton ohio procedure. The purpose of a root canal procedure is to remove the root and save the tooth. Here is more information describing the root canal procedure and why it may be the best treatment method to save your damaged tooth.

Why a root canal?

Many things can lead to a tooth root becoming damaged or diseased. A cavity in the tooth, a fracture or crack, or an oral injury can all lead to root damage. If you have had an oral injury recently, it is important to visit your dentist as soon as possible and make sure that the injury does not result in an infected or damaged root. If a tooth root is damaged and left untreated it can be very dangerous and lead to more severe complications, such as an infection in the jawbone or an abscess. Tooth abscess are
not only very painful, but can cause serious and permanent damage to your bone and gums.

The root canal procedure

The root canal procedure is performed in several steps. The entire process from start to finish may require you to visit your dentist multiple times. The steps involved in the root canal procedure include:

  1. First, the dentist will drill a hole in the tooth to access the disease or damaged root. The location of this hole depends on which tooth needs treated. For damaged front teeth, the hole is made in the back of the tooth. For damaged back teeth, such as molars, the hole will be made in the top of the tooth.
  2. After the hole has been made in the tooth, the damaged root can be removed. This step usually involves the dentist cleaning out the entire inside, or canal, of the tooth. This cleaning process will minimize future risk of the tooth becoming diseased.
  3. After the tooth canal is cleaned, it needs to be filled. At this point, the dentist may decide to hold off and wait to place a permanent filling in the tooth. If they do wait, the dentist will insert a temporary filling in the tooth to keep it safe. Permanent dental fillings are commonly made from various materials or composites and usually depends on the preference of the dentist.
  4. The last step really depends on the condition of the tooth and the location of the hole. If they decide it is necessary, the dentist may decide to place an artificial crown over the tooth to improve the stability of the tooth and to keep it safe.

The root canal procedure can be a critical step to save a damaged or diseased tooth. Once the procedure is performed, the tooth may last for a lifetime without the need for further repair or treatment.

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