What is a root canal?

A root canal (non-surgical root canal therapy) is a common procedure in which the tooth is de-vitalized, meaning that the nerve and blood supply (the pulp) is removed and disinfected, and the space left is re-filled with an inert filling material to seal out bacteria.

What causes a tooth to need a root canal?

A root canal is a necessary procedure to save the tooth when the nerve has become affected, causing irreversible damage or even killing it. By far, the most common way that a tooth's nerve is affected in this way is from a cavity (dental decay) reaching the nerve allowing it to be infected by bacteria. Other ways that the nerve can be affected are through trauma which disrupts the blood supply to that tooth causing the nerve to die, fracture into (or close to) the nerve, cracks that extend into the nerve, and repeated dental procedures. The commomn signs and symptoms that alert dentists and patients to the need for a root canal are constant or un-elicited pain, extreme sensitivity to hot or cold, pain to tapping on the tooth, or x-ray evidence of an infection...

A 2002 report from the surgeon general of the United States tells us that tooth decay is the most chronic childhood ailment, and in 2005 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call tooth decay the most common disease in children 5 to 17 years old. 

The first group of teeth that children get is called their primary or deciduous teeth, meaning that they will loose them at some point and that they will be replaced by their adult teeth.  In most children, this process happens gradually between about 5 and 12 years of age.  When primary teeth get cavities, it is important to restore them whenever possible, especially if it is going to be several years until that tooth’s permanent counterpart comes in.  Primary teeth are important in speech, chewing, comfort, esthetics, and space maintenance.  Most of these are self evident, but space maintenance might not be—if a primary tooth is removed prematurely, then other teeth tend to collapse into the vacant space left by the missing tooth and can cause crowding and mal-positioned adult teeth in the future.

Steps

1. Know why the pulp needs to be removed. When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth. In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause:
   • Swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head.
   • Bone loss around the tip of the root.
   • Drainage problems extending outward from the root.
2. Determine whether you need a root canal or not. Sometimes no symptoms are present; however, signs to look for include:
   • Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure.
   • Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed).
   • Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth.
   • Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums.
   • A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums.

Steps

1. Know about the different kinds of breaks.
   • When large pieces of tooth break off, the nerve in the tooth can cause major pain when it is exposed to saliva, air or if you eat or drink hot or cold food or beverages.
   • A minor crack or fracture may go unnoticed because it is unlikely to create symptoms. As that crack or fracture intensifies with time, however, you may feel pain as the damage extends down to the nerve. You may also feel pain when you chew because of the pressure that you are putting on the fracture.
2. Do what you can for a broken tooth until you can get to the dentist.
3. Save the pieces of the broken tooth if at all possible. This can be done if you are mindful at the time of the break that there is a potential issue and you don't swallow the pieces of tooth.
   • Spit out whatever is in your mouth into a napkin, and discern tooth fragments from food items.
   • If possible, rinse the tooth pieces under running water, but be careful not to lose them down the sink.

Steps

1. Start in infancy. You should start gently wiping your baby's tooth when it first emerges with a soft, clean washcloth. Your child will get used to the feeling long before toddlerhood.
2. Use toddler tooth care products. Toddlers have smaller mouths than adults, and ideally should use toothbrushes designed for them. Use "training toothpaste" which does not contain fluoride in concentrations enough to cause harm if swallowed. Have him or her get excited about picking out a colorful toothbrush and a favorite flavor.
3. Floss. Remember to floss daily, so you can pick up plaque from your child's teeth and gums before it hardens.

Steps

1. Brush thoroughly twice a day. Do this every single day. Most importantly brush right before going to sleep. Brush properly and thoroughly for a minimum of two minutes, even the back side of the very back teeth.
2. Go see your dentist or hygienist every six months. Having a dentist that you see on a regular basis is very important, as a dentist can tell you what you might be doing wrong when it comes to brushing, or they can help remove any sort of pain you might have within your mouth. It is important that you see your dentist every six months to a year in order to get a deep cleaning as well as a full dental exam. [1]
3. Use mouthwashes containing plaque fighting and anti-bacterial ingredients.
4. Use anti-cavity and anti-gingivitis toothpastes that contain fluoride. Fluoride can make a tooth more decay resistant and can inhibit oral bacteria's ability to create acids. [2]

Steps

1. Call your dentist immediately if you suspect a tooth abscess. The infection can become serious quickly, and it's important to start treatment as soon as possible. Symptoms of a tooth abscess include sensitivity to cold or hot foods, a throbbing toothache, swelling along your jaw line and fever.
2. Rinse with warm salt water while waiting to be treated by your dentist. A warm salt water rinse can be soothing and help rinse away additional infection-causing bacteria.
3. Take over the counter pain relievers and fever reducers to ease your symptoms.
4. Visit your dentist who will drain the abscess and remove the infection from the affected area.
5. Finish taking all of the antibiotics your dentist prescribes. This is necessary to rid your body of all of the infection left behind from the abscess.

Steps

1. Determine whether you possess general characteristics to become a dentist, such as an aptitude for science as well as good manual dexterity, communication skills and business sense.
2. Take relevant courses in high school, such as chemistry, biology, physics, math and health.
3. Obtain a bachelor's degree that includes the required science coursework to apply for dental school. Many undergraduate students choose a science major.
4. Pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Taking the test requires paying a fee and scheduling a date to take the test at a Prometric Test Center. See the ADA (American Dental Association) website for more information at http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx.
5. Apply for admission to a dental school. To find a quality school, make sure it's accredited by the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Your undergraduate grades, score on the DAT, recommendations and interviews are considered in the admission process.

Steps

1. Find out what type of person your dentist is. Is your dentist a cool down to earth sort of man or women, or a real jerk?
2. Remember that skill by itself doesn't totally symbolize dentist!
3. Make certain that your dental office has a friendly environment which you will not mind visiting frequently. Simply because they have you feeling much like your part of the family, which in turn helps to make your visit a whole lot more enjoyable as well as comfortable.
   • Does the dentist office come with a pleasurable and hospitable employees?

Steps

1. Brush your teeth every morning.
2. Eat a balanced diet - many vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause gum disease!
3. Avoid eating high sugar and/or high acid foods (cookies, candy, soda) between meals. Be careful with diet soda, it may not have sugar but it certainly has a lot of acid which is just as bad!
4. Remember that it's OK to eat those sweet treats at meal times! It's not how much you eat, it's how often your teeth are exposed to that abuse.
5. Drink water after eating. Water returns the pH of your mouth to a neutral level so it can counteract the effects of acidic and sugary foods. Frequent sips of water also prevents having dry mouth which could further cause cavities and bad breath [1]