A Quick Guide to the Basic Root Canal

Most people have heard of root canals. What they haven’t heard of, however, is what root canals involve. An average person likely knows very little about the procedure, and we want to change that.

At North Shore and Brookline Endodontic Associates we want our patients to be well informed about the procedure while also being aware that it is a pain-free treatment that will help save their natural tooth. Here is a basic guide of what you need to know about root canals and why you shouldn’t be afraid of them according to information from the American Association of Endodontists.

1. Why do I need a root canal?

To answer this question, you first need a little anatomy on the tooth. Inside your tooth, in the root of your tooth, below the gum line is something called pulp. When a tooth decays, it can inflame that pulp, or even worse—infect it. When the pulp becomes infected, it can result in an abscess at the bottom of your tooth. This is when a root canal is required.

An endodontist is a specialist who treats the inside of your tooth. They are going to go into your tooth and treat the inflammation or infection. They want to treat the infected tooth before an abscess forms.

2. How does a root canal work?

When performing a root canal, an endodontist goes into the tooth and removes the inflamed or infected pulp. Then they clean out and disinfect your tooth, after your tooth is cleaned out, they fill and seal it with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. This serves as a way to help prevent it from happening again.

3. What are the advantages to a root canal?

Root canals help to save your natural tooth, which has huge advantages. Keeping your natural tooth means that your tooth can continue to function normally. This means that your ability to chew efficiently, bite forcefully, and the appearance of your tooth all remain the same as they did before your procedure.

As you can see, getting a root canal is key to maintaining the oral lifestyle that you currently live. Getting endodontic work means getting to keep your natural tooth and continuing to experience all the functionality that a real tooth contains. Getting a root canal also prevents you from needed ongoing dental work. Getting a root canal is a smart call for overall oral health.