Root Canals Explained | Lincoln Smiles Dental Blog

6 min read

Understanding This Often-Misunderstood Procedure

Few dental procedures have a worse reputation than the root canal. Popular culture has made it synonymous with pain and suffering, yet the reality is quite different. A root canal is actually a pain-relieving procedure that saves a tooth that would otherwise be lost. At Lincoln Smiles Dental, Dr. Sepideh Rahmani and Dr. Polin Collins perform root canals routinely using modern techniques that make the experience comfortable.

Why Root Canals Are Necessary

Your tooth contains a pulp chamber with nerves and blood vessels. When bacteria infect this pulp due to deep decay, a crack in the tooth, or trauma, the pulp becomes inflamed and infected. This creates the severe toothache that brings most people to the dentist.

A root canal becomes necessary to remove the infected pulp, eliminate the source of pain, and save the tooth. Without treatment, the infection progresses, eventually leading to abscess formation and tooth loss.

The Root Canal Procedure

Root canal therapy is remarkably straightforward. Your dentist numbs the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthetic. Once completely numb, the dentist creates a small access opening in the crown of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber.

Using specialized instruments called files, the dentist carefully removes all infected pulp tissue from the pulp chamber and root canals. This is the part that sounds scary but is actually painless because the tooth is thoroughly numbed and the infected tissue is being removed, not the healthy part of the tooth.

Once the canals are cleaned, they're shaped and filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha that seals the canals and prevents re-infection. Finally, the access opening is sealed with a filling or crown to restore the tooth's structure and function.

Pain Relief, Not Pain Causation

The severe tooth pain that necessitates a root canal comes from the infected, inflamed pulp. The root canal procedure removes this source of pain. Yes, the tooth may be sensitive immediately after the procedure while inflammation settles, but this is far better than the pain from the untreated infection.

Many patients are amazed at how quickly their pain resolves after a root canal. The tooth that was throbbing with pain is suddenly comfortable.

Success Rates

Root canal therapy is highly successful, with success rates exceeding 95 percent. Most teeth that undergo root canal therapy remain functional for many years, often the rest of your life. This success rate is comparable to or better than most other dental treatments.

After Root Canal Treatment

After a root canal, your tooth is more brittle because it no longer has blood supply from the pulp. Most teeth that have undergone root canal therapy are restored with a crown or other restoration to protect them and restore full function.

You should avoid chewing on the treated tooth until it's been restored. Once restored, you can treat it like a natural tooth, though you'll need to be careful not to crack it.

Prevention of Root Canal Need

Root canals become necessary due to deep decay, cracks, or trauma. Preventing these problems prevents the need for root canal therapy. Maintain excellent oral hygiene, avoid chewing on hard objects, wear a mouthguard during sports, and see your dentist regularly.

If you develop a crack or chip in a tooth, seek treatment promptly. Early treatment prevents the crack from deepening and leading to pulp infection.

Don't Fear the Root Canal

If your dentist has recommended root canal therapy, you can be confident this procedure will relieve your pain and save your tooth. Modern root canal therapy is comfortable and highly successful. If you have questions or concerns, discuss them with Dr. Rahmani or Dr. Collins. They're experienced in helping patients understand root canal therapy and feel comfortable with the procedure.

Contact Lincoln Smiles Dental at (916) 543-8800 if you experience severe tooth pain or suspect you might need root canal therapy.