Endodontics (Root Canal Therapy)

Sometimes, the pulp inside the teeth can get infected and this can be caused by a number of different reasons like deep decay, a crack in the teeth, a blow to the teeth or the repeated dental procedures and so, natural tooth may need an endodontic treatment. An endodontic treatment is important in order to maintain a tooth in a healthy state and all dentists receive the training in endodontics while studying dentistry in the dental school.

A tooth is a single entity but it contains a number of identifiable parts like crown, root, bone, periodontal ligament and gum. Every part is important and should be in a healthy state in order to maintain a tooth in a healthy state.

Here is the brief description of different parts of the tooth –

Crown – A crown is the part of the tooth which you can see above the gumline.

Root – A root is the part of the tooth which is present below the gum and it basically sits in the bone. Generally, the root of the tooth is longer than the crown and it is usually twice as long as the crown.

Bone – A bone is an important part of the tooth as the roots of the tooth are anchored by the bone. A healthy tooth stimulates and maintains the bone tissues in a healthy state.

Periodontal Ligament – This tissue plays an important role in order to maintain a tooth in a healthy state as it cushions the tooth against the shock of chewing and biting. It also cushions the surrounding bone against the shock of chewing and biting. Periodontal ligament supports the tooth and holds it in its place in the bony socket surrounding the tooth.

Gum – Usually, dentists refer it as “gingiva”. A gum basically covers the bone surrounding the teeth. A gum disease can cause bone loss and so, it is advisable to brush and floss your teeth daily after having a meal. A gum disease can expose the roots for the decay and so, an individual should take appropriate measures to keep this tissue in a healthy state.

A tooth seems to be a solid object but it is not a solid object as it has a space in the center and each tooth contains a soft tissue called as pulp in this space. The soft tissue named as pulp nourishes the tooth from the inside. If the pulp is affected by the root decay then you may need a root canal treatment in order to prevent further damage. Whenever a tissue in our body gets infected, the body simply throws it away and generates a new tissue but a tooth has a different structure and so, our body cannot repair the pulp once it gets infected. So, it is the dentist’s duty to remove the soft tissue present in the internal space, cleanse the area and to fill the canal with a special material so as to prevent bacteria from re-entering the tooth to cause another infection. Even after the endodontic treatment, the tooth gets support from the surrounding tissues and so, it is not considered as dead.

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