Isaac Lin DDS Santana Park Dental Care
Root Canal Therapy
The tooth is comprised of three basic components. The first component is the crown/enamel, which is seen by the naked eye.
The next level of the tooth is dentin, which is under the enamel and the "housing” for the dental pulp. The final component is the dental pulp and is the core of the tooth. This bulk of the dental pulp is in the center of the tooth or the pulp chamber and is connected to the Mandibular Canal through the root canals. The root canals are like veins for the dental pulp.
What does the procedure "Root Canal" mean?
Root canal has become a term for a procedure involving the dental pulp. When the dental pulp has been exposed and damaged, it must be treated professionally and this process is usually referred to as getting a root canal.
Once the dental pulp has been infected, it must be removed from both the pulp chamber and the root canals.
Once it has been removed, the pulp chamber and root canals are thoroughly cleaned and enlarged. Based on the level of infection, the dentists may choose to clean the area more than once.
After the area is free of infection, the dentist will fill the root canals and pulp chamber with a filling that will prevent any bacteria from entering the area.
Finally, the dentist will place a crown over the tooth to restore it to its original shape.