Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

Demystifying The Root Canal

24 June 2015 by Christy Long

If you've heard of the root canal, then you probably haven't heard good things. Few dental procedures are spoken of with the same combination of misery and fear as the almighty root canal. If your dentist (such as Baker Allan DDS) has told you that you might need a root canal, then you might be shaking in your boots.

Thankfully, you have nothing to worry about.The reputation of the root canal is entirely undeserved, and the procedure is nothing more than a simple surgery which will alleviate your pain.

To help eliminate some of the mystique surrounding the root canal, here is a brief overview of what the procedure is and why you might need one.

What is a root canal?

A tooth is composed of a layer of enamel, on top of a layer of dentin, which surrounds the pulp. In this pulp are nerves and blood vessels. Thus, the pulp is the most sensitive and fragile part of the tooth. If the pulp is infected, then it must be removed. This removal is the process commonly called the "root canal."

Generally, a root canal will be accompanied by the installation of a crown. Since the root canal process requires that part of the tooth be removed in order to excavate the infected pulp, then that part of the tooth must be replaced. A crown is a synthetic, custom-made component that is meant to fit on top of a damage or missing tooth. 

So why are root canals supposed to be so painful?

It is true that there is a great deal of pain associated with the root canal, but the procedure itself actually alleviates the pain. Since the infected pulp contains nerves, you are going to be in a lot of pain if you need a root canal operation. However, the procedure itself is generally done under anesthesia, and you will feel much, much better after the infected pulp has been excised.

Why would you need a root canal?

You might wonder how dental pulp can get infected. After all, it's the most protected part of the tooth. Unfortunately, the tooth is a lot more fragile than you might expect. A simple cavity, if left untreated for a long enough period of time, can develop into infected pulp. Otherwise, you might develop infected pulp tissue if one of your teeth is heavily damaged so that the pulp is exposed. Bacteria can then enter the tooth and create an infection, resulting in a situation that calls for a root canal.

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