A root canal is a dental treatment that involves your dentist removing the soft center of the tooth, the pulp. The pulp consists of nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels which help your tooth root grow during development. Fully developed teeth can survive without the pulp since the surrounding tissues nourish them. Root canals in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY, remove the infected or decayed pulp, ensuring your smile, biting, and chewing are preserved.

Steps

• Anesthetic process

Your dentist will give you a comfortable chair after you arrive at the office. A bib is wrapped around your neck to prevent your clothes from getting stains. The specialist will administer numbing medication to your gum around the affected tooth. Local anesthesia is injected into your gums, and you may feel a burning sensation. The anesthesia ensures you do not feel pain during the entire procedure.

• Pulp removal

After your tooth becomes numb, your dentist will make a small opening on top of the damaged tooth exposing the infected pulp. The specialist will cautiously remove the pulp, bacteria, and decayed nerve tissue using special tools known as files. These files will perfectly clean out your tooth by scraping and scrubbing the sides of root canals. Your dentist uses water to flush away all the debris.

• Antibiotic administration

Your dentist can coat the area with a topical antibiotic to eliminate infection and prevent reinfection after pulp removal. The specialist will guide you on the over-the-counter drugs you can use to relieve pain if you experience mild discomfort after root canal treatment. Sensitivity and pain should only last for a few days after the treatment.

• Root canal filling

The specialist ends the process by filling the opening created at the beginning of treatment. A sealer paste and rubber-like material known as gutta-percha are placed in your root canal. This sealant prevents the root canals from being damaged by saliva. Your tooth is dead after root canal therapy. You will no longer experience pain in the tooth since removing nerve tissue eradicates pain.

• Adding a crown

You may need to schedule another appointment with your dentist to add a crown or fillers. Your tooth can become too fragile after root canal treatment. A tooth with extensive decay requires a root canal. Due to that, you may need a crown or other restoration methods to protect it, prevent breakage and restore it to full function. Your dentist will identify the best technique that fits you. Do not chew or bite on the tooth until the crown or filling is complete.

Complications

• You may experience new infections or damage after root canal therapy. The causes of these damages include:
• Your tooth may have more root canals than the ones your dentist anticipated. The unidentified root may not be cleaned, causing persistent infection.
• Your specialist may not notice a crack in the root of your tooth, leading to problems in the future.
• The inner sealing material can break down later, allowing bacteria to recontaminate the inner part of your tooth.

Ensure you practice dental hygiene like brushing and flossing twice daily and regular dental checkups to prevent root canal disorders. Schedule an appointment at Brooklyn City Dental to get root canal treatment.