{"id":361,"date":"2011-12-18T21:39:38","date_gmt":"2011-12-18T21:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iowamercuryfreedentistry.com\/?page_id=361"},"modified":"2023-09-09T16:15:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-09T16:15:03","slug":"root-canals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iowamercuryfreedentistry.com\/?page_id=361","title":{"rendered":"Root Canals, Implants, & Extractions"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a Root Canal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Root canal treatment is the removal of the tooth’s pulp (includes nerves, blood and lymph vessels), a small, thread-like tissue in the center of the tooth. Once the damaged, diseased or dead pulp is removed, the remaining space is cleaned, shaped and filled.\u00a0 There is \u00a0controversy surrounding the use of this therapy due to dental medicine not being able to completely sterilize the tooth structure.\u00a0 There is a great deal of information available out there on the internet as well as in books regarding what each side of the controversy has to say.<\/h2>\n

Do you perform Root Canals at your office?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No, when a patient requests a root canal, we will refer them to an Endodontist (Root Canal Specialist) for treatment.\u00a0 We always provide the patient with options and explain that due to the internal structure of a tooth, complete sterilization of the root is not possible.\u00a0 Historically, there has been some disagreement in the medical \/ dental profession regarding the overall health implications of root canal therapy. \u00a0Significant studies in the early 1900’s \u00a0showed root canals to have substantial negative health implications and dentists across the nation began extracting root canaled teeth.\u00a0 Currently, although the majority of dentists may consider root canal treatments to be safe, a growing number of dentists and health professional have concerns about potential negative health effects \u00a0of root canals.<\/h2>\n

Root canals are still within the standard of care and are commonly done.<\/h2>\n

Root Canal Explained<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n