A root canal treatment involves cleaning the inner part of the tooth, where normally you would find the dental pulp. This structure contains the nerves, blood´s vessels and other cells that give vitality to the tooth. If the dental pulp gets inflamed, it increases the pressure and pushes the nerve against the canal´s wall producing pain. If this situation is not reversed, the dental pulp loses vitality and finally dies, causing an infection.
Root canal treatment resolves this inflammation because the endodontist removes the contaminated tissue from the tooth. That´s why root canal treatment doesn´t cause pain, it relieves pain!!! Besides, this procedure is done under local anesthesia providing even more relief.
Root canal treatment doesn´t take too much time or too many appointments. Nowadays we have a lot of equipment to do it better and faster, usually in one or two appointments of 1-hour or less. In our clinic we use an apex locator to determine the canal´s length very accurately, rotary systems for cleaning the canal and equipment for filling and sealing the tooth. Also, we use magnification instruments and tomography for better precision.
Another misconception is that a tooth with a root canal treatment is weaker. This is true if after the root canal the remaining tooth is not properly reconstructed, leading to possible reinfection and fracture. A proper reconstruction allows the tooth to last a very long time… this is the goal of Gil Dental Group through an integral work among our specialists.
The ultimate goal of us as dentists is to prevent these situations from happening in the first place. It´s very important to keep our teeth healthy and avoid the pain or infection associated with a dying tooth. So, if you feel any discomfort in your teeth, sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet substances consult our professionals, in order to prevent more severe oral problems.
