What Is A Root Canal? Changing Your View Of Root Canals

What is a root canal? I’ve been asked that many times in my 20+ years of performing root canal treatments. People are usually very surprised at my answer that a root canal is a very simple dental procedure.

I’ve heard people say “I’d rather have a baby than get a root canal.” I always laugh at this one because I’ve been in the delivery room twice with my wife. Trust me, root canals are much easier than giving birth!

Here's my most simple answer to what is a root canal: A small opening is made in the top or back of the tooth. The soft tissue on the inside of the root is cleaned with small root canal instruments. The space created from this cleaning process is then filled with a root canal filling material such as gutta-percha or Resilon.

So, why do root canals have such a bad reputation if the root canal process is so simple? It is because this simple procedure is usually being performed on a bad tooth.

Instead of asking what is a root canal the better question might be: what causes a tooth to need a root canal treatment?

A root canal treats inflammation or infection of the soft tissue found on the inside of a tooth. This tissue is the dental pulp. If you look at a dental x-ray it will be the dark line running down the center of each root.

Although the dental pulp is referred to as the tooth nerve it contains small blood and lymphatic vessels in addition to nerve fibers.

When the pulp becomes diseased it can cause a severe toothache. The root canal didn't cause the toothache but people still associate the treatment with the disease.

The diseased pulp also effects the surrounding bone, ligament, and gum tissue. Once you have pain in this area it will take some time to heal. Even after the root canal treatment you will still have some pain.

What you need to remember is that the pain after a root canal isn't coming from your tooth. It is coming from the area surrounding your tooth. Analgesics will usually manage this pain until the tissue becomes healthy again.

Here's a summary that will hopefully help you remember that a root canal isn't nearly as complicated as most people think.

What is a Root Canal? – The Simple Steps

• Local anesthesia. Your dentist will put your tooth to sleep. Because of the horror stories out there about root canals people think they will be put to sleep. The need for this is extremely rare.
• Cleaning the root canal space. The dental pulp is removed and this space is cleaned with small instruments and irrigating solutions.
• Filling the root canal space. The space inside the root is sealed with a root canal filling.

Essentially that answers the question, what is a root canal. I give more details in The Relaxed Root Canal. I also will give you the one question you should ask the dentist before your root canal treatment.

You should get a yes answer to this question. I'll give you my recommendatio on what to do if you get a no answer. You'll find this information in chapter 5.

You'll also find the answers to more than 80 questions I've been asked about root canals. In addtion to informing you about what is a root canal I also provide you practical tips on how to have a relaxing root canal appointment and receive the highest quality root canal treatment possible.

For more information Click here.
 

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