Overcoming the Fear of Root Canal Treatment in Houston

When a tooth infection has reached the roots of the teeth or the dental pulp inside, a root canal treatment is often a necessary procedure to rid the infection, relieve the pain, and restore teeth to their former functionality.

The procedure, while once a very unpleasant one, has come a long way thanks to the advancement of medicine and the use of sedation. Most times, a root canal can be completed in a single visit, with relief coming immediately after.

Anatomy of a Tooth

The inner portion of your teeth, the dental pulp, is protected by two layers, the dentin and enamel, and the enamel is protected by a coating of minerals.

When the mineral coating wears thin from lack of oral hygiene, the enamel will begin to break down. As the enamel becomes thin, the dentin will become exposed.

If the dentin becomes exposed, any sensation experienced by it will be amplified. Cold and hot temperatures will feel much stronger and pressure against it can become very painful.

Bacteria that reaches and begins damaging the dentin can ultimately reach the dental pulp, which is the core of the tooth. The dental pulp contains all the blood vessels and nerves of your teeth and is very sensitive to any sensations.

When infected, the dental pulp can become very painful, resulting in a pounding toothache. If this occurs, a root canal treatment becomes necessary to stem the pain and fix the problem.

Root Canal Procedures

●     After a detailed x-ray of the tooth, a hole is drilled into the top of the tooth to allow access to the pulp chamber at the core. Through here, all of the pulp and infectious material inside the pulp chamber and roots will be removed.

●     Usually by the time of a root canal treatment procedure, there isn’t much dental pulp left, and all that remains is a bacterial colony. Since the pulp is mostly dead, there aren’t many living nerve strands remaining, so most sensation is already gone.

●     Even though most of the sensation in the affected tooth is gone, we still implement the use of a local anesthetic and sedation dentistry to further reduce any sensation that may be felt during the procedure.

●     The sedation dentistry will help keep you relaxed and allow us to more quickly treat the problem so you can be in and out very quickly.

●     Once the hole is made and the dental pulp is accessible, we begin removing the pulp inside the pulp chamber and any roots that have been infected. Using the x-ray as a guide, we remove all the damaged pulp and preserve any pulp that can be saved.

●     After clearing away the infected tissue, the now hollowed tooth will be filled with gutta-percha, which is a rubber compound, along with a standard amalgam or porcelain filling.

Post-Procedure and Re-treatment

After the procedure is complete, you’ll find that the pain that once plagued your tooth is gone, though it is best to wait until the tooth has fully healed before using it to chew again.

It’s not very common, but sometimes an infected root may escape the view of the tooth x-ray, and could cause issues later. If this occurs, a second procedure, known as a root canal re-treatment, may be necessary.

In any case, you may also be given an antibiotic to combat any infection that could still be lurking that would cause further issues.