Surely you have heard, on many occasions, the expression «kill the nerve», but do you know what it is or when it is necessary to do it?
What is nerve killing?
To «kill the nerve» is how dental endodontics is popularly known. This is a treatment that is applied when the nerve (dental pulp) is inflamed.
It is a simple procedure that is performed when the nerve of a tooth is affected for some reason. The most common causes are caries or an infection in the hard part of the tooth.
Most commonly, a cavity has reached the innermost, softest part of the tooth, the dental pulp or nerve, and this is when pain occurs.
And, endodontics or «killing the nerve» is performed as a measure to prevent the extraction of the tooth, preserving the diseased piece, maintaining oral functionality and oral esthetics.
The endodontist first cleans the decay in the tooth, and then performs the extraction and removal of the dental pulp or dental nerve.
When the pulp has been removed and the root canal cleaned, the infection is eliminated from inside the root of the tooth, causing the pain to subside and preventing the infection from spreading to the bone.
The root canal must then be filled or sealed so that bacteria cannot seep from inside the tooth into the bone.
So killing the nerve, is the commonly known name for this treatment, which is Dental Endodontics and whose ultimate goal is to «kill the nerve».
When is it necessary to kill the nerve?
After knowing what «nerve killing» is, let’s find out when it is necessary to do it.
– Very deep caries: When there are deep caries that have extended to the nerve. This causes any drink or food to provoke severe pain.
– Hypersensitivity in the tooth: When we suffer hypersensitivity in a dental piece, it can be generated by an extended caries or for other types of reasons, such as loss of dental enamel due to bruxism.
– Dental crowns and bridges: If a dental crown or bridge is to be placed in the patient’s mouth and it is necessary to grind the tooth too much, causing it to come close to the pulp, causing sensitivity.
– Tooth breakage or fracture: Or when there has been a breakage or fracture of the tooth, exposing the nerve.
The treatment to «kill the nerve» is a very simple and uncomplicated procedure. In addition, nowadays, very effective and long lasting local anesthetics are used, so the pain during the process should not appear. When the treatment is finished and the anesthesia has worn off, some discomfort may appear for a few days.
Of course, depending on the state of nerves or tranquility in which you find yourself when undergoing a root canal, it will influence the onset of pain. The procedure is more uncomfortable than painful.
In conclusion, we must lose the fear of «killing the nerve», since it is an intervention that produces an improvement in the quality of life, removes the unbearable pain and allows you to keep the tooth.
Do you need endodontic or «nerve killing» treatment?
In Cervantes Dental Clinic in Granada we care about your dental health, so we advise you properly to treat your specific case.
As we have said, each of us is different, so our case is different. For this reason, personalized and attentive service is our daily routine.
If you need endodontic treatment in Granada, just call or write us, we will be happy to assist you.
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