A root canal is a treatment of the pulp of the tooth that is inflamed, infected, or dead. The dental pulp is a soft substance in the center of the tooth that consists of the nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The pulp chamber is the hollow part in the center of the tooth that contains the pulp, and it continues down canals that extend through the roots of teeth and into the surrounding bone. Some roots have more than one root canal, but all have at least one canal.

Root Canal treatment is also often called Endodentic treatment. Endodontic treatment (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth), is needed when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The causes could be deep tooth decay, repeated dental procedures on one tooth (replacing a large filling, for example), or traumatic damage such as a crack, chip or even a root fracture. Gum disease can also give rise to root canal problems necessitating root canal treatment.

Any of these issues can cause serious inflammation of the pulp which causes swelling and can lead to tooth ache and eventually, serious damage to the pulp. Sometimes, this damage could also be irreversible. These inflammation could lead to chronic pains and problems that even experienced dentists could not resolve.

Why is root canal necessary? The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterward, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Now that we know how important this is, probably, many of you would also ask, is this treatment expensive? Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with an implant or bridge to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration.

Don’t endure the pain and the danger that a damaged pulp can bring you. Instead, we strongly encourage you to schedule our root canal service from our dentist, Dr. Paul Blank, one of the best Three Rivers dentists and Medicaid dentists in the area. The caliber of his services makes him a great Kalamazoo dentist that clients just love to go to for any of their dental needs. A Medicaid dentist in South West Michigan and an expert in general dentistry, you can assure yourself that you are in good hands with Dr. Paul Blank.