Gregory J. Werner, DDS Contemporary Dental 4425 Woodgate Dr. Janesville, WI (608)531-0555
Root Canal Therapy
Creating Your Beautiful Smile
A root canal is a dental treatment performed by an endodontist or specially trained dentist that is used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
Root canal is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth. Endodontist refers to a dental specialist that deals with the interior/inside of the tooth and does root canals expertly and often, for the best advanced experience and expertise. The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the root canal. The tooth’s nerves lies within the root canal. A tooth’s nerve is not vitally important to a tooth’s health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory-to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the tooth.
Why does the pulp need to be removed during a root canal?
It is vitally important to remove the tooth pulp during a root canal for several reasons. When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth. In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root of a tooth can cause:
- Swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head
- Bone loss around the tip of the root
- Drainage problems extending outward from the root. A hole can occur through the side of the tooth with drainage into the gums or through the cheek with drainage into the skin.
What damages a tooth’s nerve and pulp in the first place, creating the need for a root canal?
The tooth nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
What are the signs that a root canal is needed?
Sometimes no symptoms are present. However, these signs indicate that you may need a root canal.
- Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure
- Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
- Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
- Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums
- A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
What are the alternatives to a having a root canal?
Saving your natural teeth is the very best option, if possible, which is what a root canal makes it possible to do. Your natural teeth allow you to eat a wide variety of foods necessary to maintain proper nutrition. The root canal procedure is the treatment of choice so that you can keep your natural teeth.
The only alternative to a root canal procedure is having the tooth extracted and replaced with a bridge, implant or removable partial denture to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These alternative not only are more expensive than a root canal procedure but require more treatment time and additional procedures to adjacent teeth and supporting tissues.
How can I prevent the need to have a root canal procedure?
Since some of the reasons why the nerve of a tooth and its pulp become inflamed and infected are due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth and/or large fillings, following good oral hygiene practices (brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and scheduling regular dental visits) may reduce the need for a root canal procedure. Trauma resulting from a sports-related injury can be reduced by wearing a GameFace Mouth Guard or any dentist-approved mouth guard.
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