Your dentist may recommend any number of procedures to you, each serving an important function in the health of your teeth. One of the more common and essential of these is the root canal. That said, according to the experts at Pearl City and Honolulu, HI-based family practice Oahu Dental Care many don’t understand what this procedure is or why it’s necessary.

So what is a root canal? What conditions does it treat? How does it work? Let’s let these dentistry experts explain:

• Advanced Cases: Root canal therapy is recommended in more extreme cases of tooth decay. Underneath every tooth’s enamel is a softer tissue called the pulp. This is what contains the nerves, vessels and connective tissues essential for the tooth’s survival. The procedure takes on cases where this pulp is inflamed or infected, and it’s able to essentially “save” the tooth without the need for extraction.
• Strength From The Inside: This treatment starts off with the dentist drilling into and removing the inflamed or infected pulp. The interior of the tooth is then carefully cleaned out and shaped, so that a temporary restoration can be put in place. Later, in a second appointment, a specially molded crown is put in place, restoring the tooth to its original strength. The procedure is largely pain-free, and care afterwards is the same as it was before—daily regular flossing and twice-daily brushing.
• Signs & Symptoms: Patients in need of a root canal will experience symptoms of extreme decay, including tooth pain, heat and cold sensitivity, or tenderness in or around the affected area. In some cases, however, there are no symptoms or signs at all. Ultimately, the dentist will need to take an X-ray to determine whether a root canal is necessary, which is why it’s important to come in for regular checkups.

If you’re in Hawaii, the team at Oahu Dental Care is ready to help; with decades of experience and an approach to dentistry that emphasizes patient comfort, they’re ready to be true partners in dental health.

To learn more about root canals and all of the other services and treatments provided by these professionals, check out their website or call (808) 456-5005.