Why root canal treatment is NOT as scary as you think

A visit to the dentist is often dreaded by a layman. The fear often goes from bad to worse if one is advised for a root canal. So what is it that is so scary and does one really have to worry about undergoing a root canal?

What is root canal treatment?

A tooth primarily consists of three main layers - Enamel, Dentin and the Pulp. The pulp consists of the nerve fibres of the tooth. When decay occurs in a tooth it usually starts in the first layer, that is the enamel.If untreated, the decay goes deeper into the dentin(second layer of the tooth).That is why a dental filling is a must in the initial stage of decay to avoid a root canal.If still the decay is untreated ,the decay goes to the third layer, that is the pulp and the patient may experience pain or swelling due to the same.This is when a patient is asked to undergo a root canal treatment to save the tooth (gone are the days when a patient would simply extract/remove a tooth, saving the tooth has more long term advantages).  Sometimes a gum infection or correction of severely malaligned teeth may also require root canal treatment.

If root canal treatment is not done on time the infection may spread to the adjoining gums and bone.

How is root canal treatment done?

The dentist removes the entire decay of the tooth and opens up the pulp chamber, and then removes the entire pulp and cleans and widens the pulp canal from inside. The pulp canal is then filled with an inert filling material called gutta percha. The top of the tooth is then filled by a dental filling and subsequently a crown is given on top of the root canal treated tooth.

Why it is not scary to undergo a root canal treatment?

The whole procedure is generally done under local anesthesia and the patient feels minimum or no pain during the procedure. After the procedure the patient is given medications, making sure the patient is comfortable even after the treatment.

Why is root canal necessary?

It is important to save a tooth as much as possible, since it aids in chewing of food, general esthetics and speech. Replacing a missing tooth is much more cumbersome and expensive as compared to a root canal treatment.