How is A Root Canal Done?

The traditional Lone Tree Dentist goes to great extremes to save a tooth.  A small hole is drilled into the center of the tooth through the top of the chewing surface to allow limited access tot he inner chamber of the tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels. The middle of the pathway that runs to the tip of the root is called the 'canal'.  Typically the first front six teeth (anteriors) have a single canal and the back teeth (posteriors) have 2 to 4 canals. 

Usually a dentist will use a small file to clean the main canal if they are trying to remove the necrotic or gangrenous tissue of the patient.  A tooth contains miles of tiny tubules and they cannot be cleaned.  The diameter of the tubules is large enough for 12-14 bacteria to fit inside but too small for even one blood cell.  Antibiotics are of no use because the blood supply in the tooth was removed.  Some dentist today will ignore this and seal the tooth which creates a tomb which can be very troublesome as the tomb area is a breeding ground for bacteria.  

For a long time the most common materials used to seal a canal was gutta percha.  Gutta percha is a rubber like substance that is easily packed into the tooth when the material is somewhat warmed.  However, the it cools and sets for 24 hours, shrinking occurs and allows bacteria to esape the the apex of the tooth.  This means a chronic low grade infection or toxic material can be picked up by blood cells and carried throughout the body causing more infection in your kidneys, joints, nervous system, brain or eyes.  

Some dentists are using a new material called Biocalix which kills the bacteria in the tubules.  While this may solve part of the problem of the root canal it doesn't eliminate the problem of the energy block. 

For more about Root canals, check out 'Can a Root CanalFail?'

Content found in the book "Let the Tooth be Known" written by Dawn Ewing RHD.