Dr. Boehler answers your questions about Root Canals
Nothing strikes more fear in patients (or makes them look at me like I am the Grim Reaper) than when I tell them they need a Root Canal. I am here today to answer the most common questions and give some insight into this treatment and how it has changed over the years. I hope this will give you the knowledge you need to understand this procedure and what to anticipate. DO YOU REMOVE MY ROOT(S) WHEN I HAVE A ROOT CANAL DONE? This is a very common misconception. Inside of every tooth is a canal that houses the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth that keep it alive and provide nutrition. When a tooth is attacked by bacteria or has trauma, the nerve and blood vessels become inflamed and eventually die. This is what causes the pain, swelling and often times draining of pus to occur. When the bacteria leaves the tooth and enters the bone around the root, it begins to actually dissolve the adjacent bone and that is what a dentist sees on the radiograph. In order to resolve the invasio...