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Preserving Natural Teeth |
Very few things are a durable as a natural tooth. However, extensive decay, an accident,
fracture, or gum disease can lead to a tooth infection that can threaten to destroy
a healthy tooth. When a tooth's nerve chamber becomes infected, a root canal treatment
is often the only way to save the tooth.
Indications can include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discoloration
of the tooth, and swelling or tenderness in the nearby gums. Thanks to advances
in dental techniques and pain mitigation, most patients nowadays find that having
a root canal treatment is as unremarkable as having a cavity filled.
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Tooth Anatomy |
A tooth is made up of three primary structures:
- Enamel: The extremely hard outer covering.
- Dentin: The underlying layer
- Pulp: Soft tissue containing the blood supply and nerve, which
is housed in the hollow root canal space. The pulp partially nourishes the root
from the inside.
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Infection of the Pulp |
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In most other part of the body, when tissue becomes diseased, the body merely throws
it off and forms new tissue. However, teeth are a unique structure. Because the
soft tissue within the tooth is totally encased within a very hard material, the
body cannot get to it in order to effect a repair.
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Treatment by a Dentist |
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A skilled dentist is trained to do what the body is unable to do. Various procedures
and technologies are used to access and remove the soft tissue located in the internal
spaces (canals). The dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans
and shapes the inside of the canal areas, then fills and seals the canal space.
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When large amounts of tooth structure are missing or compromised due to disease,
it may be necessary for the dentist to place a “post” down into the canal space
to act as an anchor for a crown (or “cap”) that will be placed on the tooth to fully
restore it. Although patients can be in a great deal of pain before seeing the dentist,
measures are taken to assure that pain is quickly and fully relieved during the
procedure.
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Myth: “Root Canals Cause Dead Teeth”
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When a root canal procedure is done properly, the tooth does not die. It can receive
adequate support from surrounding tissues and will usually last as long as any other
tooth. No replacement is as good as a person's own natural tooth, and a successful
root canal can allow a patient to keep his/her own teeth, free from infection.
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Post-Operative Care After Root Canal Treatment |
For the first few days, the treated tooth may feel sensitive. This is especially
true if there was pain or infection before the procedure. Post-operative discomfort
is effectively relieved with medication.
You should not chew or bite on the
treated tooth until it has been fully restored (usually with a crown) by the dentist,
because it could fracture. Restorations should be completed on a timely basis because
a root canal procedure can fail and the tooth can be lost if all treatments are
not promptly and fully completed.
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