The root canal has unfortunately gained an unsavory reputation for being a painful procedure, but modern advances in dental technology have made most concerns non-issues. After all, the purpose of a root canal is to alleviate tooth, face, and head pain. There are a few different types of root canals, each involving a slightly different technique. Read on to learn more.
What Is a Root Canal?
The roots of the tooth anchor the tooth into the jaw and serve as channels for nerves and blood vessels. A root canal treatment (RCT) allows your dentist to treat abnormal conditions deep inside a tooth without having to extract the whole tooth. Such conditions may be caused by injuries, abscesses, deep cavities, or other factors. The affected pulp is removed from the tooth and is replaced with a rubbery material. A root canal may require two visits to complete.
Types of Root Canals
- A nonsurgical primary root canal treatment is performed to manage inflammation or infection.
- A secondary root canal treatment is sometimes required if the first root canal does not completely remedy the problem.
- An apicoectomy is a microsurgical procedure in which the tip of the tooth’s root and any infected tissue are removed. This is done when regular root canal treatments are unsuccessful.
- A pulpotomy is usually performed on a child and removes the nerve and diseased pulp from the crown of the tooth only, leaving the root nerve intact.
- A pulpectomy is another pediatric endodontic procedure. In this case, the entire nerve and all pulp are removed.
Many endodontic procedures, such as root canals, are covered by EDP Dental Plan. EDP is a simple, low-cost alternative to dental insurance. With one annual membership fee, you can get up to 70% off of general dentists’ fees and 25% off of specialists’ fees. Call 631-272-5230 or enroll online and get the care you need at a more affordable price.
