2007-09-11 00:14:41 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
When a tooth gets infected then you have to have a root canal done in order to keep your tooth. The doctor will drill a small access hole in your tooth and removed the nerve of the tooth because that is what is infected. The dentist will use small files that look like short needles to remove the nerve. The files get a little thicker in size as he continues to use them. A root canal normally takes 2 visits to complete. The reason that it takes 2 visits is because the dentist wants to make sure that all of the nerve is removed before he closes the tooth up again. On the second visit he will continue to use the files some more to reshape the canal. When he is done with the files he will cement a rubber point where the nerve was to seal the tooth up. This rubber point is called Gutta Percha. They use to use it to make golf balls. Once the tooth is all sealed up your dentist should place a temporary filling in the access hole. You should then have a crown put on the tooth to protect it from breaking or cracking. When you have a root canal done the tooth will become brittle over time so it makes it very easy to break or split the tooth so that is why the crown is needed.
2007-09-11 01:54:02 · answer #1 · answered by Kelli in FL 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bravo to Kelli from Fl.!!! She did a great job explaining the procedure. The only thing I recomend is to have a Endodontist do it for you,they are the ones who specialize in the "Root Canal" therapy. Most of them can have you finished up in a 1 hour appt. and then you would see your general dentist for a crown. YOU MUST HAVE A CROWN AFTER TREATMENT!!
2007-09-11 18:47:36 · answer #2 · answered by A Kind One 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think all you need to know is at the site below including advice for patients needing a root canal.
The second site is excellent too.
2007-09-11 07:23:38 · answer #3 · answered by ghouly05 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never had one done, but it gets done when the nerves in your tooth become infected. The dentist drills the tooth and kills the nerves in the tooth so that it is no longer painful. Then he puts a filling in the tooth. I can only give you the basics and not the details since I've never had to have one.
2007-09-11 07:25:11 · answer #4 · answered by Andee 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋