What You Should Know About Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is often referred to as just a root canal, but technically, the root canal is the part of your tooth that the procedure is designed to treat. Your tooth’s root extends into your jawbone, where it rests comfortably and securely within its very own socket. The root itself stabilizes your tooth when you bite and chew. The canal inside of it allows your jawbone to send essential minerals and nutrients to your tooth’s nerves and blood vessels, located in the tooth’s pulp chamber. When tooth decay (an infection caused by oral bacteria) reaches the pulp, the tissues inside and throughout your root’s canal can quickly become infected. Root canal treatment (RCT) is the process of saving the tooth by removing the internal infection and restoring what remains of your healthy tooth structure.  

The Facts About RCT

When patients are told they need RCT, many fear that the procedure may be painful or uncomfortable because it involves accessing the tooth’s interior. The truth, however, is that RCT alleviates tooth pain; it doesn’t cause it. The procedure can often be performed in just a single visit, with minimal discomfort, thanks to advanced dental technology and customized dental sedation.

Decay inside of your tooth’s pulp isn’t just painful, it’s also dangerous for the rest of your oral health. Once infectious oral bacteria reach your tooth’s pulp, they can travel through the root canal and into the surrounding jawbone structure and tissues. RCT helps stop the spread of infection and helps you avoid more serious oral health complications in the future.

Because of the dangers that an extremely infected tooth can pose, some cases can be severe enough that protecting your oral health requires extracting the tooth. RCT can often be the last resort for saving your tooth before extraction becomes necessary.

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment
To learn more about root canal treatment, schedule a consultation by calling Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.