A root canal is an invasive medical procedure where the attending dentist removes the infected pulp from the inside of your tooth. They achieve this by drilling a small hole in your tooth’s top and cleaning the infected pulp. When done, the tooth is sealed up, and you should not have any more pain. The recovery time for a root canal is usually pretty quick, and you don’t need to be put to sleep for the procedure.
This procedure is done to save a tooth that is infected or damaged and is a common procedure that is safe for all ages.
So what exactly causes an infected pulp, and just how important are root canals that dentists need to save these small pieces of flesh? We’ll find that out in today’s article, folks, so keep reading.
The Anatomy of a Root Canal
The pulp of your teeth is a small cavity at the center of each tooth filled with sensitive nerves, blood vessels, and tissue. This mass of living organisms helps your teeth grow when you are a child and develops into permanent adult teeth. Once your teeth are done growing, the pulp remains stored in each tooth.
Pulp is important for maintaining the health of your teeth in several ways. It is a living tissue that circulates important nutrients and minerals through the roots of your teeth. Pulp also regulates the temperature you perceive at the surface of your teeth, helping you to eat hot and cold foods more comfortably.
When the pulp becomes infected for reasons we’ll explore later, a root canal is needed. A damaged pulp can be a very painful experience. You may have sore gums and jaw, tooth pain, and extreme sensitivity to pressure and temperature. Root canals remove the affected tissues and nerves causing the discomfort and replace them with a synthetic filling.
Reasons to Get One
Various cases lead to a tooth’s pulp being infected and, thus, requiring you to get a root canal. These include:
- Tooth injury: If you injure your tooth, you must visit your dentist as soon as possible. This is because a break in your enamel can allow bacteria from the outside to enter your internal canal and cause an infection.
- Tooth decay: An untreated cavity is a small hole in your tooth that, if left untreated, can become larger and lead to more serious tooth decay. Once tooth decay reaches your tooth’s root canal (the space inside your tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels), it can become infected and cause a lot of pain.
Much like a tooth injury, cavities dissolve the enamel, sometimes straight to the pulp, when not handled immediately. Therefore, bacteria and other hazards now have access to the pulp.
- Wear and tear: As we age, the surfaces of our teeth begin to wear down, and we are more susceptible to developing chips and cracks in our teeth. These chips and cracks can be caused by grinding our teeth at night, biting down on hard objects, or simply from everyday wear and tear. If left untreated, deep chips and cracks can lead to infection or damage to the pulp of our teeth.
Summarising Their Importance
Without a tooth’s pulp, your oral health would quickly degrade from within. Since rotten pulps are connected to the gum line and jawbone could erode your teeth in one fell swoop if not treated immediately.
If you have any or all of the symptoms mentioned above, you need a root canal in Manassas. Book an appointment at Manassas Smiles so we can get you sorted out. We treat patients with complete dental care services all under one roof. Visit our website to learn more or to book now!