Is a Root Canal Considered Surgery?
A root canal is a dental procedure that is used to treat an infected tooth. It involves drilling into the tooth, removing any infected material, and filling the area with a special material. Many people are unsure if this procedure is considered surgery or not. The answer depends on who you ask.
What is Root Canal Surgery?
In the medical field, “surgery” typically refers to any invasive procedure that involves cutting into the body and manipulating tissues or organs.
By this definition, root canal surgery would be considered a surgical procedure because it involves accessing the interior of the tooth by drilling through its surface and removing diseased tissue from within it.
However, dentists refer to this kind of procedure as an “endodontic treatment” rather than surgery because it does not involve cutting through the skin or other soft tissues. This means that most dentists would not consider a root canal to be classified as surgery in the traditional sense of the word.
Why a Root Canal Considered Surgery
While most dentists would not consider a root canal to be classified as surgery in the traditional sense of the word, it is important to note that this procedure does involve assessing the interior of the tooth by drilling through its surface and removing diseased tissue from within it.
This means that technically speaking, a root canal can be considered a type of minor surgical procedure because it involves manipulating and cutting into tissues or organs.
Root canals are necessary when an infection has damaged or destroyed part of the tooth’s structure. The purpose of this treatment is to remove all infected material from inside the tooth so that it can be sealed off with a special material and preserved for further use. Without this kind of intervention, an infected tooth may eventually have to be extracted altogether.
Therefore, root canal surgery should not necessarily be viewed as invasive but rather as an essential step towards preserving your natural teeth whenever possible.
The Benefits of Root Canal Surgery
Root canals can save teeth from extraction and preserve your natural smile for years to come. It also helps prevent future problems such as further infection or decay since all of the damaged tissue is removed during the procedure. Additionally, root canals are often less expensive than extracting a tooth and replacing it with an artificial one.
Conclusion
Root canals are an important dental procedure that can help preserve your natural teeth for years to come. Although some may refer to this kind of treatment as “surgery”, dentists typically do not classify it as such since no soft tissues are cut during the process.
If you think you may need a root canal, speak with your dentist about your options so they can determine what course of action is best for your oral health needs.
