Mystery of Root Canal Treatments

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By Lauren Knight

Have you had chronic tooth pain? Maybe your dentist has mentioned that you need a root canal. These are words that can scare any patient immediately. Perhaps a little explanation will diminish the mystery of root canal treatments and put your mind at ease.

Root canal treatment, known in the dental industry as endodontics (yes, a big scary word!), basically involves a simple and common dental procedure that effectively removes the diseased part of a tooth. Often this procedure can save a damaged or decaying tooth, thereby preventing you from requiring further treatments or interventions, like dentures or bridge work. Worse yet, untreated infections can lead to problems within the jaw bone which could require extensive medical work.

A healthy tooth is filled with pulp, a soft connective tissue filled with nerves and blood vessels. When a tooth becomes decayed or infected, your dentist can often save the tooth by removing the infected or diseased pulp.

Your dentist will basically drill a small hole into your tooth, remove the infected tissue, and probably apply an antibiotic treatment to stop any further infection. Once the diseased pulp is drained, a temporary filling will be used until the tooth is healed. Once healed, a crown or permanent filling will be placed on the damaged tooth and it will be as good as new.

Endodontic treatments can usually be performed fairly quickly, often in one to three visits. These treatments are perfect to combine with a holiday, as the prices abroad for dental treatment are significantly lower than those you’ll find at home. Check out dental tourism companies, such as Dental Care London, when you need your dental work performed. You’ll be smiling again before you know it!