Underneath your tooth's outer
enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue
called the pulp, which carries the tooth's nerves, veins,
arteries and lymph vessels. Root canals are very small, thin
divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to
the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more
than four root canals.
Why do
I feel pain?
When the pulp becomes infected due to a deep cavity or
fracture that allows bacteria to seep in, or injury due to
trauma, it can die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased
blood flow and cellular activity, and pressure cannot be
relieved from inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is
commonly felt when biting down, chewing on it and applying
hot or cold foods and drinks.
Why
do I need root canal therapy?
Because the tooth will not heal by itself. Without
treatment, the infection will spread, bone around the tooth
will begin to degenerate, and the tooth may fall-out. Pain
usually worsens until one is forced to seek emergency dental
attention. The only alternative is usually extraction of the
tooth, which can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly,
resulting in a bad bite. Though an extraction is cheaper,
the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge,
which can be more expensive than root canal therapy. If you
have the choice, it's always best to keep your original
teeth.
What is a root canal procedure?
A root canal is a procedure done to save the damaged or dead
pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the
diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. The canal is filled
with gutta percha, a rubber-like material, to prevent
recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently
sealed with possibly a post and/or a gold or porcelain
crown. This enables patients to keep the original tooth.
