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Root Canal
Do I need a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected.
Root canal therapy is performed when the pulp which is composed of nerves and blood vessels in the tooth becomes infected or damaged. During root canal therapy, the pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
What is dental Pulp?
Dental pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the center of the tooth and contains the nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The tooth's nerve is in the "root" or "legs" of the tooth. The root canals travel from the tip of the tooth's root into the pulp chamber.
A tooth's nerve is not vitally important to a tooth's health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory -- to provide the sensation of heat or cold.
When Does Pulp Need to Be Removed?
When pulp is damaged, it breaks down, and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other dying pulp remnants can cause an infection or abscess. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of a tooth’s root. In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause:
- Swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head
- Bone Loss around the tip of the root
- Drainage problems extending outward from the root. A hole can occur through the side of the tooth, with drainage into the gums or through the cheek into the skin.
What Damages a Tooth's Pulp in the First Place?
A tooth's pulp can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth, large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
People fear root canals because they assume they are painful. Actually, most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling placed. The discomfort experienced in the period leading up to seeking dental care is truly painful, not the procedure itself.
What Are the Signs That Root Canal Therapy Is Needed?
Signs you may need root canal therapy include:
- Severe tooth pain upon chewing or application of pressure
- Prolonged sensitivity (pain) to hot or cold temperatures (after the heat or cold has been removed)
- Discoloration (darkening) of the tooth
- Swelling and tenderness in nearby gums
- A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
Sometimes no symptoms are present.
What is a post crown?
A post and crown is a combination of a post (that extends down into the root canal treated tooth and then a crown.
There is actually a third element called the 'core'. Sometimes, the dentist will refer to it as a post, core and crown, and generally the cost will be added on top of the cost of root canal treatment.
There are always these three elements, it's just that sometimes the core is incorporated into the post (custom made) and at other times, it is built up on top of the post, in filling material. This happens after the post has been cemented. The latter is much more common nowadays.
A post crown always requires a root canal to have been completed before it can be carried out. That's because the post extends deep down into the root canal of the tooth in order to get extra grip for the core and the tooth is fragile after the root canal is complete and the dental crown is to protect the remaining dentine of the whole tooth.