Many people flinch when
their dentists tell them they need
root canal therapy. While dentists are
sympathetic to fears of pain, they also want patients to know that root
canal therapy has three purposes:
- Stop the toothache
- Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into
the jaw
- Maintain the original tooth instead of
replacing it with a denture or bridge
The root canal is actually a channel that runs
from the root of the tooth, which connects to the bone, up to the top
surface of the tooth. The canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the
complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This
lifeline inside the tooth is called the pulp.
When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can
get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it
becomes inflamed; it's the same process you watch when other parts of your
body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes inflamed, it's harder
for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain
inside your tooth.
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