What is a Root Canal or Endodontic Surgery?


2 Comments
July 14, 2009 9:17 pm
by Frank Higgins
Frank Higgins
 
Frank Higgins

For those of you searching for info on what exactly is a root canal (or endodontic surgery), here is an excellent overview.




From Wikipedia:

A root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. It is part of a naturally occurring space within a tooth that consists of the pulp chamber (within the coronal part of the tooth), the main canal(s), and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root. The smaller branches are most frequently found near the root end (apex) but may be encountered anywhere along the root length. There may be one or two main canals within each root. Some teeth have more variable internal anatomy than others. This space is filled with a highly vascularized, loose connective tissue, the dental pulp. The dental pulp is the tissue which forms the dentin portion of the tooth. The formation of secondary teeth (adult teeth) is completed by 1-2 years after eruption into the mouth. Once the tooth has reached its final size and shape, the dental pulp’s original function ceases for all practical purposes. It takes on a secondary role as a sensory organ.

Root canal is also a colloquial term for a dental operation, endodontic therapy, wherein the pulp is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled.

You can find an endodontist in your area.

2 Responses to “What is a Root Canal or Endodontic Surgery?”

  1. saynono Says:
    July 24th, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    NEVER NEVER NEVER let a dentist use formaldehyde, lead or mercury in a root canal. don’t assume they won’t…ASK ASK ASK. Its called Sargenti Paste/N2/RC2B/RC2W. The dentists who use it conceal it from the patient (even after harming them) because they know it is malpractice. The FDA rejected it based upon safety concerns, every state dental school teaches NOT to use it because it is below the standard of care. Injuries can be life altering and life threatening. We are two patients who will suffer life long problems because we didn’t know to ask. The ADA does not recommend it, their endodontic board (AAE) is strongly against it…
    http://www.aae.org/NR/rdonlyres/14F3726F-DA2D-4155-97E9-D0201E690B17/0/paraformaldehydefillingmaterials.pdf

    Don’t take the chance….injuries are random and can show up months or years after a seemingly properly done root canal. ASK, SAY NO. Don’t walk in our shoes. http://www.worstrootcanalever.com
  2. Cynthia Vieau Says:
    October 14th, 2009 at 12:07 am

    I had a partial root canal done oops file tip broke off in one of the roots and now I am waiting almost another whole month to have quote from the dentist “a simple procedure done to remove the tip” I really don’t know what is simple about endondontic surgery and just how good it is to be having to wait so long to have the work completed!

Leave a Reply

Security Code:

  • Contributor Bios


  • Jenna Rogers
  • Jenna Rogers, RN
    Jenna has worked in the health care field for 13 years as a Registered Nurse, specializing in Oncology and clinical research. Jenna writes articles and equipment and procedure explanations for DoctorBase with the consumer-patient perspective in mind. She is an avid writer and photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area and in her spare time writes a relationship improvement column for Examiner.com.

  • Katie Sullivan
  • Katie Sullivan, RDH
    Katie Sullivan is a full-time Registered Dental Hygienist in Sonoma County.  She recently graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2009, majoring in Dental Hygiene. Katie brings a fresh, young standpoint to DoctorBase as she conveys a current perspective not only to the younger patients, but to the skilled professionals & consumers as well.  Katie is a member of the ADHA, CDHA & Redwood Dental Hygiene Society.

  • James Newman
  • James Newman, MD
    James Newman, MD completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University where he continues to serve on the Clinical Faculty. He has performed over one thousand surgical procedures and is trained in the use of every major laser system used in plastic surgery today. Dr. Newman is well known for his surgical expertise and shares his clinical experience by teaching surgical residents at Stanford University as well as authoring over 30 scientific publications related to plastic surgery and laser surgery.

  • Marzieh Oghabian
  • Marzieh Oghabian, DDS
    Dr. Marzieh Oghabian, graduated from Case Western University School of Dentistry in Cleveland OH with a doctor of dental surgery . Dr. Oghabian was awarded the "Excellence in Prosthodontics" award from Case Western where she also completed an externship in Oral Surgery. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurophysiology and Biology from University of California, at Davis. She is a member of the American Dental Association.

    • Cheryl Calmis
  • Cheryl Calmis, RDH, BS
    Cheryl Calmis, RDH, BS is a registered dental hygienist in the San Francisco Bay area. She graduated from U. C. San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Ms. Calmis' clinical experiences include laser assisted periodontal therapy, sedation dentistry, and non-surgical periodontal treatment. Prior to becoming a dental hygienist, Cheryl worked as a Microbiology Lab technician in the biotech industry after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from San Jose State University.

  • Alissa Pacheco
  • Alissa Pacheco, RDH
    Alissa has worked in the dental field for 10 years. She got her dental assisting and dental hygiene degrees at Diablo Valley College. She loves learning about dentistry and enjoys helping people get healthy one smile at a time. In her spare time, Alissa loves to bake and play with her young daughter.

© 2010 - 2013 DoctorBase.com. All rights reserved.