what is done when you have a root canal?

Answer 1

A root canal treatment is "basically" the act of taking out the contents from the center of the root, all the way to the tippy end, and then sealing the hollow space with a filling material. Many people say that they "had the root removed" from a tooth, but root canal treatment treats the CANAL in the center of the tooth.

Usually, it is required when the tissue inside the center of the tooth (ie: in the root canal) is diseased or dead. This is usually the result of an infection caused by tooth decay that has gone "all the way to the nerve." The idea here is to eliminate the infection by removing the tissue. The next goal is to smooth out the inside of the canal(s) so that a filling material can pass freely to the end of the tooth to seal it off. Once it is sealed off, it is no longer a source of infection to your body. Your natural immune system will continue to fight off any infection that may have entered the bone and eventually your body will heal. Some people need antibiotics to help in this fight, but they are not always necessary.

In back teeth, it is generally recommended to have a crown placed over the tooth to protect it from breaking, as teeth that have had root canal treatment tend to dry out somewhat and become more brittle and susceptible to breaking. Front teeth are often strong enough to go without a crown, but sometimes they need a crown, too.

Yeah, it can hurt, maybe 1 out of 10 times. That 1 guy where it hurts probably waited until the tooth was already really killing him before he went for treatment. I tell my patients that root canal treatments are like teenagers. 9 out of 10 are no problem at all, but you always hear about the bad ones.

Answer 2

A root canal is a functional tooth without a nerve. A dead tooth so to speak.
The anatomy of a tooth consist of the enamel which is the part of the tooth you see when you look in the mirror.
Below the enamel is what is know as the dentin.
Beyond the dentin is the pulp.
The pulp is the nerve of the tooth where tiny capillaries allow blood to flow.

The dentist will drill to the pulp. Once in the pulp he will use tiny files and broaches to remove the pulp.
After the pulp is removed the dentist will replace the pulp with a rubbery substance called gutta purcha.
The tooth is the capped off and as a result you have a functional tooth without a nerve.

US Navy Dental 1978-1981

Answer 3

they will first numb the area, probably place a rubber dam
(depending on the Dr), then remove the decay with the drill, then use little tiny spiral files to remove the dead nerve, take several x rays during the process to make sure they got to the bottom of the root, then fill the area where the nerves used to be with a plastic material, top it with a filling, and then tell you to come back for a crown.

Answer 4

I honestly thing it depends on the tooth. I had one a couple of weeks ago and it went just fine, no pain right now. Now my supervisor had two but they both were back teeth and she continues to have trouble till this day.

The numb the area and then drill out the tooth and then I think they then "clean" the tooth of all the pus and whatever and then pack it and eventually make you a crown.

Answer 5

They drill a hole through the center of your tooth - top down (or up if it is an upper tooth). Then they inject some medicine to kill off the nerve ending and fill it.

Be sure to get a crown - it will turn the tooth to "peanut brittle" and can break if it isn't supported.

Answer 6

the drill out the rotton part of the tooth. Then they take out the main nerve in the tooth and put a temp crown on it. You then go back a few weeks later and get a permanent crown installed. It really doesn't hurt as bad as many people claim unless the area gets infected.

Answer 7

ouch is the root canal

Answer 8

You're better off not knowing.