Root canal treatments

Your teeth are composed by a crown, which is the visible part and one or more roots; a tooth has one root, a molar has several. In the root there is a small canal that is filled with nerves and small blood vessels; the pulp. This pulp may be infected by decaying teeth, a filling that has started to ‘leak’ or by an accident in which the tooth suffered a severe blow. When this pulp infection is left untreated the pulp will die and bacteria will degenerate the root and surrounding jawbone. Without treatment your tooth or molar will be lost eventually. In a root canal treatment the dentist opens the tooth by making a tiny hole in it, after which he cleans the root canals, disinfects them and fills these canals with gutta percha, a rubberlike material. After this the reason for infection is gone and the opening in the tooth will be closed by a filling. Root canal treatments have generated absolute horror stories, but you will receive an anesthetic and therefore you will experience practically no pain or discomfort at all. You could, however, experience some pain after the anesthetic has worn out, but this can be taken care of with regular pain medication. The dentist will use the operation microscope during a root canal treatment which allows him or her perfect view on your tooth and the root canals that have to be taken care of.