There are not many dental procedures that are more poorly misunderstood than root canal procedures. However, these treatments can be among the most important for saving a tooth that has suffered major damage.

Does A Root Canal Procedure Re-position The Roots Of The Tooth?

One of the more common misconceptions about root canals is that they will involve re-positioning the roots of the tooth. However, this procedure is actually focused on cleaning and sanitizing the interior of the tooth and its root system. As a result, this procedure is often required when a tooth has developed a severe infection of its interior soft tissue as the root canal will allow the soft tissue to be removed.

Will The Soft Tissue That Is Removed Be Replaced With Anything?

To avoid leaving the treated tooth hollow and weak, the dentist will use a dental filler to replace the soft tissue that was removed. This filler will harden and reinforce the tooth. To further improve the durability of the treated tooth, a crown will be placed over it. This is often one of the more time-consuming parts of the treatment as the crown will need to be custom-made for your tooth. As a result, it is common for patients to have this crown made ahead of time so that they will not need to use a temporary crown until the permanent crown is ready.

How Much Work Will Your Root Canal Procedure Require You To Miss?

While a root canal is a fairly major procedure, individuals should avoid assuming that they will need to miss large amounts of work. In reality, patients that are undergoing root canal procedures should expect to miss a minimal amount of work as this procedure will be comparable to a routine filling. Therefore, a patient may only need to miss the time needed for the root canal to be completed. For those who schedule this procedure for their off-day, they may not miss any work.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk Of Needing A Root Canal In The Future?

Since root canals are most often needed to address infected teeth, patients can reduce their risk of needing to undergo this procedure by practice sound dental hygiene as this will keep the number of bacteria in the mouth to a minimum. Additionally, seeking treatment for cracks, chips, and cavities can close these openings before bacteria are able to make it to the soft interior of the tooth.