Tooth decay can sometimes cause inflammation in the dental pulp. The root canal is then inflamed and must be treated.
After eating, food particles and liquids remain on the teeth. Those particles contain sugar and starch. The mouth-living bacteria feed on the leftover food and thus form acid.
This acid can eventually damage the protective layer of enamel on the teeth, resulting in holes. One speaks of tooth decay. Tooth decay can cause infection, resulting in pain and inflammation.
Beneath the enamel of the teeth is the dental pulp, a soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The dental pulp extends from the crown to the root of the tooth. If an inflammation develops in the dental pulp due to tooth decay, a root canal treatment is necessary.
During a root canal treatment, the tooth and the area around it are numbed. The dentist then drills a hole in the tooth, after which the dental pulp is removed from the tooth. The root canals are cleaned and filled with a medicine. A permanent crown is then placed over the tooth.
This procedure can have several complications, which should be discussed with the dentist before the operation.
