What exactly is a root canal?

The term itself actually refers to a naturally occurring pocket in the center of a tooth; this contains the pulp chamber and nerves. When the term is used to refer to the procedure, it means repairing teeth that have decayed badly or become infected with the goals of saving the tooth, preventing further damage and relieving symptoms. The process involves removing the nerve and surrounding pulp from deep inside the tooth, then cleaning and sealing the tooth’s interior. If the procedure is not performed, then the surrounding gums may become infected and an abscess may form.

Why would I need this treatment?

The problem starts when a tooth’s nerve is damaged by tooth decay, trauma, large fillings or repeated dental procedures. The nerve and surrounding pulp become inflamed, irritated and infected, and a very painful toothache develops. Bacteria enter the pulp chamber and flourish, further damaging the tissues. This creates an infection or abscessed tooth, in which a pus-filled pocket forms around the tooth’s roots. Other symptoms develop, including swelling on the face or head, bone loss around the root’s tip or drainage problems from the root into the gums or cheek.

But don’t I need the nerves inside that tooth?

No, once the tooth emerged through your gums, the nerves’ only function is to detect hot or cold temperatures. Your tooth will work just fine without these nerves.

How do I know if I need this procedure?

You might not notice any symptoms, but typical warning signs include the following:
• Severe pain whenever you chew or apply pressure
• Unusually high sensitivity or pain to hot or cold temperatures, even after taking away the source of the hot or cold
• Swelling, redness and tenderness in the surrounding gums
• Darkened tooth
• A recurring or persistent pimple on the nearby gums

How well does this treatment work?

Reported success rates exceed 95 percent. After the procedure is completely finished with a permanent filling and/or crown, these teeth can last for the rest of your life with proper care.

How can I avoid needing a root canal?

Since the original causes of tooth inflammation and infection include deep decay, large fillings and repeated dental procedures, maintaining good oral hygiene will help reduce the likelihood of needing this treatment. This involves brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day, flossing at once each day, and visiting your dentist every six months.

And since trauma can also damage a tooth’s nerve, wear a mouth guard when playing sports or engaging in other activities that risk physical injury to the head.

The term ‘root canal’ is given to a naturally formed cavity that is located in the center of a tooth. Inside the root canal contains the pulp chamber, which is a soft area inside the root canal. The nerves of the tooth are located here inside the root canal. Once a tooth has emerged through a person’s gums, the nerves of the tooth are not vital to a tooth’s health or functioning. The only thing the nerves provide is that of sensory: to detect the sensation of cold or hot. If a tooth’s nerves have been removed, it will not affect the tooth’s daily functioning.

Why Do I Need a Root Canal Performed?

As mentioned above, the pulp of the tooth is where the nerves lie. If the nerve of a tooth suffers either an infection or injury, then a root canal will need to be performed. Some of the most common reasons for root canal treatment are:

• A slowly dying tooth that is dying due to aging or a past trauma that wasn’t severe enough to result in a treatment when it was first injured.
• When a tooth becomes infected (abscessed) from decaying.
• When trauma occurs to the tooth (such as breaking a tooth or chipping a tooth) and the nerves of the tooth are exposed
• When tooth decay invades the tooth. This will lead to the decay penetrating though the tooth’s enamel and eventually the dentin of the tooth, until it reaches the tooth’s nerves (pulp chamber).

How Do I Know if I Need a Root Canal?

You should always visit a dentist before deciding on something as extreme as a root canal. Sometimes a root canal is needed even though there are no symptoms present. There are also some common symptoms a root canal is needed that include:

• Tenderness and swelling of the gums near the tooth
• Severe pain that comes from application of pressure to the tooth or chewing
• Discoloration (generally becoming darker) of the tooth
• A pimple that is persistent and reoccurring directly on the gums
• Extreme sensitivity or pain to temperatures (for example, you eat ice cream and feel the coldness on your tooth after you have stopped eating it)

Before and After

The best candidates for teeth whitening include adults whose mouths and gums are generally in good health. It is not recommended for children under the age of 16 because the pulp chamber is enlarged until that age, and the process could cause sensitivity and irritation to the pulp. Since restorations such as fillings, veneers or crowns will generally not lighten, it is not recommended for the mouth with multiple restorations as the whitening process could leave the mouth with uneven results. Teeth whitening is also not recommended for pregnant or lactating women.

At Home Approach

There are several methods of tooth whitening that can be pursued and used right at home. Some simply employ chemical or physical agents. Most toothpastes contain simple mild abrasives that remove surface stains by grinding off colored stains that are left by food. Whitening toothpastes can not change the intrinsic color of the teeth, unlike bleaching. There are also dental rinses available with peroxide that boast tooth whitening properties. These offer minimal results, but can leave your mouth feeling fresh and clean, as well as remove surface discolorations. Most effective over the counter whiteners contain a combination of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. These can be in the form of gels applied with a tray or gel pens or strips that you apply twice a day for 30 minutes at a time. Treatment usually lasts about 14 days, with initial effects noticeable in just a few days for some, and final results sustained for about 4 months on average. These solutions can lighten the teeth up to one shade. Of course results vary from person to person depending on their specific conditions and lifestyles. The cost of these solutions can range anywhere from a couple of bucks to $100.

Dentist Approach

For a more dramatic result, a dentist is able present several more options. For a more personalized approach, after a thorough examination of the mouth, accumulation of medical history, and x-rays of the teeth, the dentist can help determine the best and most effective method of whitening. He or she may recommend a high concentration gel bleaching using carbamide peroxide. This involves customizing a tray to fit the mouth and wearing the gel filled tray for a predetermined amount of time, (an hour to overnight). Usually 2-3 treatments is all that is necessary to achieve noticeable results. This personalized treatment can cost anywhere from $100-$500. For even more striking results, the dentist may recommend light-accelerated technology which uses light energy to accelerate the process of bleaching. In this process, a hydrogen peroxide gel is exposed to a light source, usually halogen, but may be LED or plasma, for 6-15 minutes. This can be accomplished in as little as 30-60 minutes in a single visit. Both options offered by the dentist have the capability of lightening the teeth up to 8 shades, and may cost anywhere from $500-$800. Rivertown Dental Care offers Teeth Whitening in Columbus, Georgia.

Internal Stains

For internal stains due to tooth conditions such as a root canal, where perhaps blood or other fluids may have leaked in, internal bleaching may be required. This is accomplished by drilling a hole into the pulp chamber, cleaning and sealing the area with a peroxide gel, and replacing as necessary until desired results are achieved.

Teeth whitening is a practical and effective solution for those suffering with embarrassing yellow teeth and a subsequent reluctance to smile. No one should settle for a dingy smile when there are simple solutions available to fit just about any budget.