What are Root Canals?
Just like the rest of the body, teeth are also living organs. At the center of the tooth lies the pulp, which is a complicated network of nerves and blood vessels. These blood vessels are connected to the rest of the body’s blood vessels and blood supply through roots, similar to the roots of a tree. When a tooth has suffered extensive decay, bacteria from the decay can enter the pulp’s blood vessels. Once this happens, the bacteria can move throughout the body via the blood vessels, allowing the infection to spread to the whole body unless it is treated.
Undergoing a root canal treatment can help in preventing this from happening. Basically, a root canal is a filling but rather than filling the top of the tooth, it fills in the tooth’s roots. During a root canal, the dentist will clean the whole tooth and eliminate bacteria as well as the nerves and blood vessels that are infected. Then a rubber seal will be placed in the tooth root to prevent the bacteria from spreading to the whole body. Once this is done, the tooth will be strengthened by using a dental crown. The crown will be placed over the tooth to strengthen it and restore function to it.
