True or False? A root canal is a timely and painful procedure.
If you picked false, you’re correct! Root canal treatment doesn’t cause pain—it relieves it.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a treatment done to repair and save a damaged or infected tooth.
The pulp is a soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. It can become damaged from dental decay, a broken tooth, or an injury to the tooth. When this happens, the pulp needs to be cleaned and disinfected so that the damage doesn’t spread to the bone that holds the tooth in the jaw.
The term “root canal” is used because the process involves cleaning the canals of the tooth’s root.
Symptoms
An infected tooth can cause mild to severe pain. It may not be consistent in nature. For example, it may get worse when you bite down on the tooth or when you consume hot foods or liquids.
In addition, your gums around the infected area may feel swollen and tender.
The Process
If your dentist suspects you need a root canal, they will take an x-ray to show where the decay is located. Once it’s confirmed a root canal is the best treatment plan, your dentist may ask you to visit an endodontist, a specialist who treats nerve damage to the teeth.
What can you expect from the procedure? Here’s the drill:
- Your tooth will be numbed and an opening will be made through the crown (top) of the tooth to the pulp.
- An endodontic file will be used to clean the infection and unhealthy pulp out of the canal. Each root canal is shaped so it can be filled.
- The root canals will be filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. The gutta-percha is placed with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. The temporary filling will be removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored.
- You must return to your dentist to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
It’s important to keep in mind that every root canal is different. If you have questions or concerns, consult your dentist.
VBA dental plans are administered and underwritten by TruAssure and are offered in association with the DenteMax Plus dental network arrangement, which includes participating dentists from the United Concordia, DenteMax and Connection dental networks in all states but North Carolina, where the DenteMax Plus network arrangement includes DenteMax and Connection dental networks.