How to avoid root canals for the long haul

But what exactly is it? There is so much pain and fear that is thought of when the phrase root canal comes to mind and it is all for good reason.  The main thing that causes one is neglect.  If you are neglecting your dental health and routines then you may be in line for one of the worst things in the dental world.  Taking out a rotten tooth that has gone to far to fix. We’re sure you hear this often enough in passing, but man is it hard to believe how fast this year is flying.  Some may even say that is a good thing!

So, let’s get right into this. We’ve all heard of the term root canal. In fact, anytime you hear that someone is getting a root canal, the first things that pop to mind are extreme pain or an expensive procedure. But what exactly is a root canal? We hear it often enough to recognize what’s going on, yet the specifics get a little hazy simply because people don’t actually talk about what it means to have a root canal.  Do you worry that you’ve got a tooth that’s in extreme pain and wonder if a root canal is needed? Stop in to visit us so we can ensure everything is on track. Just click below to visit our site and set up an appointment.

The main thing to know is that there are two main types of root canal procedures depending on the severity of the infection. 

Basically, root canal therapy is the best way to clear infections in a root canal. So, the root canal itself is a place where your teeth’s roots are at, and infection in the roots often occurs because of a deep cavity, which causes damage to the tissue in the roots.

So during the actual root canal procedure, we would end up cleaning out the infected root canal and then seal it up to make sure you don’t have any future infections within your root canal. 

Now if you have one chance to save your tooth then you are in for an Apicoectomy.

This is the procedure that is used to save the tooth, and since it’s more dire, it usually means the infection has gone beyond the tip of the root. In this procedure, a portion of the root tip as well as the infection itself is removed. Once this tissue is removed and cleaned, the canal is filled with a material that is rubber like and seals your tooth from further bacteria and infection. 

If you have not let your health slip too far then you may be able to have a Pulpectomy.

Partial root canals are often in order depending on how far the infection itself actually spreads into your root canal. This procedure is called a pulpectomy, and it relieves your pain and allows for antibiotics to lessen the infection over time. Basically, you’d make two trips to your dentist or endodontist. At the first appointment, you would be given you antibiotics to reduce the infection. At the follow up appointment, the infected “pulp” would be removed, and then your teeth would be cleaned and the infected canal would be filled afterward. 

So be safe and be wise with your dental health.