Root Canals

John Halmaghi, a top dentist at Comfort Dental in Southfield, Michigan, believes educating his patients is the number one way to have a healthy set of teeth. One of the most common dental problems patients are uneducated about is root canals.

A root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. It is part of a naturally occurring space within a tooth that consists of the pulp chamber (within the coronal part of the tooth), the main canal(s), and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root.

The smaller branches, referred to as accessory canals, are most frequently found near the root end (apex) but may be encountered anywhere along the root length. There may be one or two main canals within each root. Some teeth have more variable internal anatomy than others. This space is filled with a highly vascularized, loose connective tissue called the dental pulp.

The dental pulp is the tissue which forms the dentin portion of the tooth. The formation of secondary teeth (adult teeth) is completed by 1-2 years after eruption into the mouth. Once the tooth has reached its final size and shape, the dental pulp's original function ceases for all practical purposes. It takes on a secondary role as a sensory organ.

Root canal is also a colloquial term for a dental operation, endodontic therapy, wherein the pulp is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled.

What causes a need for a root canal?

A lot of people think that bad hygiene is the cause of all teeth problems. This is only one cause of root canal. The fact is we inherit our teeth from our parents, determining whether we have hard or soft teeth. Soft teeth decay more readily than hard teeth so extra careful hygiene is needed to prevent decay and other problems. Decay is the number one cause of root canal. When the decay progresses to the pulp chamber of the tooth, you will usually feel sensitivity when you drink something hot or cold. This doesn’t automatically indicate the need for a root canal. Sometimes just getting the decay removed and cavity filled takes care of the problem.

If the decay has progressed too far, bacteria can get into the pulp of the tooth and cause an infection, better known as an abscess. There are sometimes no symptoms as nerves can die slowly over time.  This is one reason dentists take x-rays during your routine cleaning appointments. If left untreated, the abscess can get larger and literally eat away at the bone in your jaw causing pain and swelling.

Prevention

Personal hygiene care consists of proper brushing and flossing daily. The purpose of oral hygiene is to minimize any etiologic agents of disease in the mouth. The primary focus of brushing and flossing is to remove and prevent the formation of plaque. When used correctly, dental floss removes plaque from areas to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

If would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. John Halmaghi at Comfort Dental in Southfield, Michigan, to have your teeth examined call 248-646-2273.