A root canal infection is one of the most severe oral conditions that can upset your oral health to a severe extent. The root canal houses the nerves and blood vessels that do the job of nourishing the tooth and provide sensation. When your tooth develops a root canal infection, it can put the tooth at risk of being extracted. Hence, a root canal treatment is of high importance to treat the tooth and prevent it from being removed.
What causes a root canal infection?
Tartar:Â Tartar that accumulates on the surface of the teeth and roots is one of the major causes of a root canal infection. These deposits can contain a lot of microbes that release harmful acids and erode the enamel. Upon gaining access to the root canal cavity, the bacteria can severely infect the dental pulp that lies within.
External trauma:Â External trauma to the teeth can damage them and lead to broken, cracked, or chipped teeth. This can potentially expose the root canal cavity to the microbes in the mouth and cause an infection.
Gum diseases: Gum diseases such as gingivitis are infamously known to be incurable. However, it can be treated and controlled. While the infected gum tissues decay, the microbes can infect the teeth through the underlying roots. They could potentially cause jawbone deterioration as well.
How can root canal infections be treated?
Root canal therapy is known to be the last resort treatment method to save a severely infected tooth from being removed. Before starting the procedure, the dentist will conduct a thorough screening process to determine if any other treatment method can restore the tooth. If not, you will be suggested to go for root canal therapy.
During the treatment, the dentist will clean the tooth thoroughly, prepare it, and place a rubber dam around it. A small hole will be made on the tooth to access the root canal and extract the pulp. The dentist will use dental files for this purpose. After removing the infected pulp, the walls of the cavity will be scrubbed and disinfected. A small amount of antibiotic medication may be placed in the cavity to prevent the regrowth of the microbes. The hole will be sealed off using filling material.
Restoring the tooth
Since the nerves and blood vessels are removed from the tooth, it would be deprived of the nutrients. Hence, it could easily crumble under high stresses, such as while biting or chewing something too hard. Such a tooth can be restored using a ceramic crown. The dentist will prepare the tooth, take a precise mold of it, and use it to fabricate the crown. Once fabricated, it will be placed on the tooth and bonded using dental adhesives.
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