What is Root Canal

Millions of tooth have been saved with root canal. Root canal is a dental treatment wherein a decaying or infected tooth will be overhauled and repaired.

A root canal treatment is recommended when the nerve of your tooth becomes inflamed or damaged.

Endo Steps (photo from google)

Other root canal symptoms include discoloration of the tooth, prolonged sensitivity to pain, and swelling of nearby gums. Another sign that you will need root canal is when you chew there is a severe ache in a particular tooth, and there is a persistent pimple on your gums.

Once the dentist diagnosed that you do need root canal, prepare yourself for some time in the dental chair.  Don’t worry about the pain. Even though common belief pegs root canal treatment as painful, the pain you are experiencing before you sit on that fateful dental chair hurts more than the treatment itself.  Modern technology has allowed this dental procedure to be painless, and it will feel like a normal dental filling procedure.

The term root canal come from the procedure itself where in canals of your tooth’s root will be cleaned. 

After cleaning your teeth, the root canal procedure will begin.  The nerve and pulp of a tooth will be removed. The pulp is a soft tissue found under the dentin, which is the hard layer and white enamel of your tooth. The pulp needs to be removed as bacteria will multiply within its chamber.  If not treated, the swelling may extend to other tooth and even to the other parts of the face, neck, and head. What more, bone loss and a tooth hole may occur.

An endodontist operating on his patient. (photo from wikipedia)

The root canal procedure does not end there. Afterwards, your tooth will be disinfected and cleaned.  Then the tooth undergoing root canal treatment will be filled and sealed with gutta-percha, a rubber like material.

After the root canal procedure, the restored tooth will be like your other tooth.  You can chew with it, you can chomp off an apple, and eat whatever. Root canal cost depends on the severity of your tooth problem. 

Dr. Cecilia Lontoc DMD is one of the best dentists. For more information or to schedule your dental checkup, please call (310) 782-6155  or visit our website at www.cecilialontocdmd.com