22
May
What Exactly Is A Root Canal? – A Jacksonville dentist explains…
A root canal is needed when a tooth is extremely infected. The goal of a root canal is to save a tooth that would otherwise be unable to be saved without the procedure.
During a root canal, the dentist works to remove bacteria and the present decay from inside and below the tooth in order to save it. Nowadays, modern treatments to conduct root canals are much more effective and much more comfortable than they were previously.
Below, we will discuss some more information on root canals, how to take care of your teeth after getting one, and how to avoid needing one.
What Happens During The Procedure?
1. Numbing.
The first step in getting a root canal is local anesthesia. This is used to numb the tooth and the area surrounding the tooth. This is needed because otherwise, the procedure would be unbearable.
2. Drill.
Once started, the dentist works to drill out a portion of the tooth to access the decay present within the tooth. The dentist does so by drilling a small hole and they use very small tools in order to clear out the damaged and decaying pulp inside of the tooth.
They will also likely use an irrigation tool in order to wash out any of the remaining pulp inside of it. If needed, they will also add some antimicrobial solution inside of the tooth in order to kill off the infection that might be present.
3. Filling.
Once the tooth has been cleaned, your Jacksonville FL dentist will fill the tooth with a temporary filling. This is used because your tooth will not be ready for a permanent crown until the tooth has healed. Once healed, a permanent crown will be put in place.
How To Care For Your Tooth After A Root Canal?
In order to avoid complications, you are going to want to take good care of your tooth after getting the root canal completed. You will want to be sure that you are maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine in order to keep complications from occurring.
You should be doing everything that makes up a good oral route including brushing twice per day, flossing after you eat, and using mouthwash.
How To Prevent Root Canals?
1. Avoid Hard Foods.
One of the things that you are going to want to do to avoid needing a root canal would be avoiding hard foods and things that could present issues like ice cubes.
Biting down on hard surfaces can cause your teeth to weaken and eventually crack. Having your tooth crack is going to expose the inside to bacteria and potential infection which can increase the need of a root canal in the first place.
2. Wear A Mouth Guard.
If you are someone that grinds your teeth at night, you are going to want to be sure to wear a mouth guard in order to protect your teeth at night.
Clenching and grinding your teeth can lead to your teeth wearing down and becoming weakened. This can increase the risk that you suffer from a tooth crack at some point which would necessitate a root canal to avoid infection.
Overall, there is a lot that you want to be aware of if you are in need of a root canal. The treatment is necessary at times when your tooth cannot be saved otherwise. If you implement the proper dental hygiene procedures in your daily life, you should be able to avoid the need for one as best possible. However, sometimes things happen and they cannot be avoided. A root canal is a much less scary procedure nowadays than it was in the past, but it is still best to be avoided.