Root Canal

A root canal can save a diseased or dying tooth from extraction. In spite of the considerable costs and time involved to treat just one tooth using this procedure, a single tooth is often vitally important to retaining the setting of all other teeth and to conserving a patient’s unique bite pattern. Pain in the head and jaw, and disruption of the functional occlusion (bite) can result from the loss of just one tooth.

First and foremost, a Cincinnati-area dentist or endodontist (root canal specialist) will evaluate the patient to determine the cause of their pain or discomfort. A root canal will often be recommended if a patient is found to have a nerve infected by tooth decay.

Teeth are composed of three different regions, the tough outer shell (enamel), a softer layer (dentin) and a deeper inner layer (pulp). The pulp is the layer of the tooth that is the target for root canal treatment. The pulp is made up of nerve and lymphatic tissue, which is why root canal treatment used to be very painful. When the pulp is infected by bacteria or damaged, the body’s immune system will rev up to fight off the infection, resulting in inflammation, infection, and pain. Ignoring such pain can lead to the spread of the infection further into the surrounding teeth, jaw, head and neck areas, leading to more serious medical issues.

When a root canal is performed, the Cincinnati dentist or endodontist may prescribe a pre-surgical period of anti-biotics. The dentist or endodontist will numb the tooth and surrounding tissue then drill through the enamel and dentin into the pulp of the infected root, and all of the infected material is removed. X-rays and detailed inspection may be required to ensure that all the decayed materials are eliminated. The root is then treated with a disinfectant and a sealant before being refilled with a variety of materials which bond to the tooth and permanently fill it. A temporary filling or crown may be put in place during the healing phase until the dentist inspects the tooth for any further infection on follow-up and places the permanent filling or crown.

Most root canals are performed by general dentists who may also elect to refer difficult cases to an endodontist in the Cincinnati area. The modern root canal procedure is now pain free and much shorter due to a variety of improvements in dental instruments and materials. Lasers, ultrasonic tools, improved filling materials, and advances in radiography mean that many more teeth are being preserved in a normally functioning state than ever before.