TEETH ARE ALIVE, just like every other part of the body. That means they are susceptible to infection. Whenever an infection becomes severe enough, the tainted part has to go, or else all the surrounding tissue will be compromised as well and the patient’s life will be at risk! That’s where a root canal comes in.
What Is A Root Canal?
Root canals are a way of getting rid of the infection in a tooth without getting rid of the actual tooth. A root canal won’t save your tooth from becoming infected—by the time you need one, it’s too late for that, but it will allow you to keep your tooth.
After a good diagnosis eliminating all other possibilities for the tooth. Then numbing the tooth so that you can’t feel the tooth pain anymore. A dentist or endodontist will go into the tooth to reach the infected pulp at its core. Next, the inside of the tooth is flushed out, the root is filled with sealer and gutta-percha. Then there is a permanent filling put in the tooth called a core build-up. Sometimes the core build-up may have a post into the root to give the tooth additional strength. Then on some front teeth and all back teeth a crown is done and cemented. This procedure ensures that no more bacteria can get inside the tooth and minimizes the chances of the tooth breaking.
To get a better understanding of what’s involved in root canal treatment, check out the video below:
When Do You Need A Root Canal Treatment?
The way teeth become infected is through decay, cavities, or cracks from an injury, which means it’s usually an avoidable problem. If you’re brushing and flossing properly, your teeth are unlikely to reach a level of decay that allows bacteria to reach the living dental pulp inside them. However, from time to time we see teeth that need a root canal that has never had a filling and has no sign of decay. This isn’t seen often but a couple of times a year we see this happen. The point is it can be hard to figure out which tooth is hurting and why. That is why you call the dentists at McOmie Family Dentistry we are here to help.
Symptoms of Tooth Infection
Infection can lead to an abscess at the tooth’s root or the death of the pulp. If you have tooth decay extensive enough to require a root canal, you’ll probably be experiencing significant pain in and around the infected tooth. With an abscess, there will also be swelling and inflammation. Tooth pain alone isn’t always a sign of an infection, but it’s always worth checking out to make sure.
Other symptoms of tooth infection include:
- Temperature Sensitivity – Experiencing pain or discomfort when consuming hot or cold foods and drinks.
- Sensitivity to Pressure – Pain when chewing or applying pressure to the tooth can signal infection or an abscess.
- Fever – A fever can accompany a severe tooth infection, indicating that the body is fighting the infection.
- Swollen Lymph Nodes Under the Jaw – Infected teeth can cause lymph nodes under the jaw to swell as the body attempts to fight the infection.
- Rush of Foul-Tasting Fluid and Pain Relief – If an abscess ruptures, it can release a foul-tasting fluid in the mouth and provide temporary pain relief.
- Persistent Tooth Pain – Constant pain that doesn’t subside with over-the-counter painkillers.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential to seek dental care promptly to prevent the infection from spreading and to explore treatment options like a root canal to save the affected tooth.
Root Canals on Different Types of Teeth
Molars
Root canals on molars can be more complex due to their structure and function. Molars, located at the back of the mouth, have multiple roots—usually two to three—and several canals within those roots. These teeth endure significant chewing pressure, which makes them more susceptible to wear, decay, and infection. The complexity of molars means that a root canal procedure often takes longer and requires more skill and precision. After the infection is cleared and the canals are sealed, a crown is essential to restore the tooth’s durability and functionality. The crown protects the tooth from further damage and ensures it can withstand the force from chewing.
Front Teeth
Root canals on front teeth, also known as anterior teeth, are generally simpler because these teeth typically have a single root and canal. The procedure involves accessing the pulp chamber through the back of the tooth, cleaning out the infected pulp, and sealing the canal. Since front teeth are more visible and play a crucial role in your smile, aesthetics are important. A filling may suffice if the tooth structure is mostly intact, but a crown might be necessary for added strength and to restore the tooth’s appearance, especially if a significant portion of the tooth is damaged.
Chipped Teeth
A chipped tooth can expose the dental pulp, making them susceptible to infection. When the pulp is exposed, a root canal is necessary to prevent further complications. The procedure involves removing the damaged pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the canal, and sealing it with gutta-percha and a permanent filling. Depending on the extent of the damage, a crown may be placed over the tooth to restore its shape, function, and appearance. A well-fitted crown can protect the tooth from further chipping and ensure it blends seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Is a Root Canal Right for You?
Depending on the diagnosis, a root canal may not always be the solution. In these situations a root canal cannot save your tooth, and a different procedure such as an extraction may need to be done.
If a tooth is significantly decayed or damaged, there might not be enough healthy tooth structure left to restore it effectively with a root canal. This is because the remaining healthy tooth structure is unable to support a filling or crown. In such cases, extraction might be the only option.
A tooth with a fractured root is likewise difficult to save with a root canal. The fracture can extend below the gum line, making it difficult to clean and seal the canal properly. Additionally, a root canal might not be effective if a tooth has undergone multiple treatments or infections persist. Chronic infections and repeated procedures can weaken the tooth, making it unsalvageable and likely needs to be extracted.
What to Expect from A Root Canal…
Here at McOmie Family Dentistry, Dr. Mark McOmie routinely does root canals. We do root canals on anterior teeth, bicuspids, and molars. On a normal day at our office, we do 3-5 root canals. Root canals are not painful during the procedure and you should not feel any discomfort at all. If you do, we stop and get the tooth properly numb so you don’t feel anything. There is no reason to hurt while at the dentist. Root canals can take as little as 15 minutes and up to one hour. On a posterior tooth usually, we do the root canal, core build-up, and a crown in under one hour. That way the next visit is just to cement the crown, which usually takes about 15 minutes without you needing to be numb.
We use the latest in technology to make your experience the least traumatic as possible. For example, we use an instrument called an apex locator, which can help find the apex of a root required when doing a root canal. We know you probably don’t know what that means, so we won’t bore you with the details. Before this instrument, it was common to take 45 minutes to find the apex of the root. But now with this instrument, we can find the apex in less than 30 seconds. Taking 45 minutes and turning it into 30 seconds of treatment is just one of many examples of how this procedure has become much easier on the patient than it used to be.
Root canals are almost always done in one visit at McOmie Family Dentistry, and we have been doing it this way for nearly 20 years. We find that we have greater success with less pain to our patients when we do the entire procedure in one sitting. We have the skill to do root canals at a high quality, in a short amount of time with no pain.
When we do root canals we always use what is called a rubber dam. As explained in the video above, the goal of a root canal is to clean the bacteria out of the hollow space in the middle of the tooth. We don’t want the bacteria or the rinses in your mouth. The files used to clean the tooth out are very very small. A rubber dam is used for safety during a root canal. If we drop a file the rubber dam keeps you from swallowing it. Oftentimes when we have a patient with a toothache that is new to our practice and we pull out the rubber dam, they ask what it is. It is nothing to worry about and fits around the tooth with minimal effort and no discomfort.
All root canals are done under magnification and special lights to help us see everything we need to see. These don’t touch the patient or really get near the patient, but it can look a little weird. Again as with everything else, it helps us do the highest quality of dentistry while keeping our patient’s comfort optimal.
Keep Those Teeth Healthy!
Remember that preventing the problem is always better than needing a solution! Healthy teeth don’t need root canals, so keep brushing twice a day and flossing daily, and cut back on sugary drinks so that your teeth stay healthy! If you do have a tooth problem, remember, most problems with teeth can be fixed without a root canal or pulling the tooth. If you do need a root canal, however, we can help turn that mountain into a molehill. It will be easier than you think, promise!
We love our patients! Thank you for choosing McOmie Family Dentistry!
