What is Root Canal Surgery?
Root canal surgery is a dental treatment that is used to cure and protect a tooth that is about to decay or become infected ultimately. It is also known as the endothermic surgery which means inside the tooth. It is done within the pulp of the tooth that is known as the root canal.
Root Canal
There is a misconception that the root canal is treatment, but instead, it is a part of the tooth. The term “Root Canal” is a cavity that is naturally present in the center of the tooth. There is a soft area in the root canal that is called the pulp or sometimes, pulp chamber. This pulp fosters the tooth and gives it a suitable surrounding environment. The nerve of the tooth is situated in the root canal.
Why is it essential to eliminate the pulp of the tooth?
Initially, when the pulp or the tissue of a tooth gets infected or damaged, it gets converted into debris, and bacteria begin to multiply. This bacteria could be the cause of infection of an abscessed tooth, which is a pocket filled with puss. It is essential to remove the pulp of the tooth in such a scenario because it could lead to the following problems:
- Swelling that might go all the way to other areas such as the face, neck, or head
- Losing of the bone around the tip of the root
- Drainage issues exceeding outward from the root. Even a small hole can take place through the side of the tooth with drainage leading to gums or through the cheek with drainage into the skin.
Essential steps that take place in the Root Canal Surgery
- Cleaning of the root canal
First of all, while the patient is under anesthesia, the dentist takes out everything present in the root canal. The dentist creates a tiny access hole on the tooth’s surface and pulls out all the small dead and diseased pulp tissue with the help of small files.
- Filling of the root canal
On the second stage, the cleaning, shaping and decontaminating of the hollow area take place. The root of the tooth is filled with a substance similar to rubber with the help of an adhesive cement to properly seal the canal. At this point, the infection, along with the nerve, is removed from the tooth. Hence, the patient would no longer feel any pain.
- Adding a crown or a filling
A crown or filling is added on the tooth so that it could protect the tooth from breaking.
Few facts about the Root Canal Surgery that you need to know
- There exist a concept that root canal surgery is excruciating, but actually, it is a pain-relieving.
- The root canal surgery is a pocket-friendly option as it costs less than it does to remove a tooth and fulfill the gap with the help of a crown or a bridge.
- One sitting is enough, but if there exists curved canals, multi-canals, or significant infections, it might take two sittings.
