For many people going to a regular dental appointment to have routine cleanings, most hope to hear their dentist say, “Try to floss everyday. But all looks good. See you in six months.” But for some individuals, the dentist has to break the news that there is some deep decay in a tooth or evidence of an abscess and a root canal is necessary to eradicate the problem. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be wondering what a root canal is and how it will fix the issue. Root canals are an amazing procedure that allows you to keep your natural tooth, while extracting the damaged or infected parts. Having a dentist you trust can make having a root canal no more stressful than a simple cavity filling. The benefits of getting a root canal procedure when it is needed will save you a lot of pain from possible infection and also save your tooth.

Parts of a tooth

To fully understand what a root canal procedure is, it is important to know the different parts of a tooth. Most people know about enamel being the hard outer layer of a tooth, but there is much more to a tooth than just the surface area that you can see. Teeth actually have living tissue inside of them that keep the tooth healthy. Generally, the tooth is divided into two groups,

• The crown, which is the part of the tooth above the gumline
• The root, which is the part of the tooth beneath the gumline

Inside the tooth, starting just below the enamel surface in the crown and going into the root as well is the layer of dentin, which is the largest layer of the tooth and is living tissue that looks like bone. In fact, dentin is harder than bone.

Beneath the dentin layer is more living tissue called the pulp. This is where all the nerves and blood vessels are located. Inside each root, some teeth can have up to four, there is a hollow chamber known as the pulp canal.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure that cleans out damaged tissue and infected pulp, the inner, soft, living tissue of a tooth. When a cavity, for instance, is left untreated and continues to decay through the tough enamel and the bone-like dentin layer, the soft, vulnerable pulp is left open to bacteria getting in and causing pain and more damage. A dentist will remove any damaged tissue and thoroughly clean out each affected canal. If a tooth has more than one root, it is possible that each root containing a pulp canal will need to be cleaned out.

What issues warrant a root canal?

Root canals can be helpful in a number of situations. In the case of a deep cavity, or of a chipped or cracked tooth that allows the internal nerves to be damaged or inflamed,  a root canal can be used to save the tooth.

You will know that you need a root canal after your dentist investigates your tooth. But the cause that will get you into the dentist’s chair is most likely persistent pain. Hot and cold sensitivity, tooth discoloration, or pain when you chew could also be signs that you may be in need of a root canal.

Do not wait to see your dentist if you have any inexplicable pain in your teeth. If you are in St. Augustine, FL. and suspect you may be in need of dental care, call Dental Remedies today for friendly service to help get you out of pain.