Root Canals

Root Canals Q & A

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure that cleans out the canals in the root of a decaying or abscessed tooth. Both safe and effective, a root canal helps to save your tooth. Before root canal technology was available, when people lost teeth, they often suffered bone loss, difficulty chewing and speaking, and bite problems. Millions of teeth are saved every year with root canals.  

Why do I need a root canal?

Large fillings can cause a tooth to crack or break, leaving you with very little tooth. This creates the opportunity for a germ to lodge in the pulp inside the tooth, creating an abscess.  If you have an infection in the tooth, you’re at risk of losing it. Bacteria can destroy the bone, and the bone connects your tooth to your jaw.

What happens during a root canal?

There is no need to fear a root canal. With today’s technology, it’s similar to having a tooth filled. Dr. Van Kooten or the specialist first takes X-rays of the affected tooth or teeth to guide the work. Then local anesthesia is used to numb the entire area so that you do not feel pain during the procedure. A thin covering (rubber dam) is placed over your tooth to protect it from bacteria in the mouth.

Next, Dr. Van Kooten or the specalist opens the tooth from the top and removes the nerve, including areas in the root (the root canal). Every canal in the root is cleaned as well as the inside of the tooth, and antibacterial medicine is placed in it. The canals are filled and the space inside the tooth with a material to seal it against harboring bacteria. Finally, a permanent filling is placed on the tooth.

Dr. Van Kooten may prescribe an antibiotic for you to take after the procedure. The area will be sensitive for several days, so the operative phrase is “be gentle” in your daily dental routine.

At a follow-up appointment after the root canal, Dr. Van Kooten will either put a permanent filling in the tooth or create a crown for it, depending on the degree of decay or infection. The restored tooth should last a long time with proper dental care. There is no substitute for brushing, flossing, and using antiseptic mouthwash daily.