Probably no dental procedure places fear into the heart of a patient than root canal, but the process can save a dying tooth. Pain and time are great, but saving a single tooth can provide immeasurable benefit to oral health, as well as that of the head, neck and jaw. Endodontists, root canal specialists, can properly establish a proper course of action. If tooth decay has infected a nerve ending, root canal may be unavoidable.

Teeth are built from enamel, dentin and pulp. The pulp, the deep inner layer of the tooth, is where a root canal is aimed. Made up of nerves and lymphatic tissue, pulp is an area that bacteria thrive, bringing on infection quickly. Ignoring tooth pain will allow that pain to migrate not only to nearby regions like the neck and jaw, but also can lead to more serious medical problems.

Prior to root canal surgery, a patient may be prescribed antibiotics to start the fight against bacteria. The procedure involves drilling through the enamel and dentin to access and remove infected pulp. Following removal of the infected pulp, disinfection is undertaken, the space filled, and then capped with a temporary crown to allow healing. Once the area has healed to the endodontists’ satisfaction, a permanent crown or filling will be placed.

The fearful procedure of the past century has been replaced by modern techniques. Pain will never be fully removed, but anesthesia will alleviate most of the pain, providing for a much more comfortable procedure.