What is a Root Canal?

January 7, 2011 by Miranda Laranjo  
Filed under Wellness

When you are told you need a root canal, it is generally because the nerve in your tooth has been damaged and is starting to die, or in some cases has slowly gone bad over time. This can happen due to decay in the tooth that has reached the nerve, or trauma from a blow to the tooth or in an accident where the tooth has been hit. Also sometimes a tooth can develop a crack that can reach the nerve and allow bacteria from your mouth to enter through the crack into the nerve and cause it to go bad. Many times there is pain, or sensitivity to hot or cold things during this degenerative process, but not always.

When you have a root canal done, we are actually removing that diseased and degenerating nerve tissue from the middle of the tooth. If not removed it can cause an infection to develop that we call an abscess. This can be very painful and cause swelling that must first be treated with antibiotics before the root canal can be done. A key factor in having this be a comfortable and uneventful procedure is to have the tooth relatively calm and comfortable before you begin.

The nerve tissue enters the tooth through a small opening at the tip of the root. It extends up the root of the tooth through one or more small canals and ends in the crown of the tooth in an enlarged area we call the pulp chamber.

To remove the nerve we make a small opening through the biting surface or back of the tooth that extends into the pulp chamber. We then use a series of files that extend down each canal to the small opening where it enters the root. Sometimes these files are manipulated by hand and sometimes we use a drill to advance the files through the canal until we reach the end. In this way, we clean out the nerve tissue and shape each canal so it is shaped like a small funnel or cone. We use different chemicals and medications in the tooth as we are using these files to help us clean out all the nerve tissue and to sterilize the canal space.

After these cleaning and shaping steps are done, we use small sterile rolled up pieces of paper that we call paper points. These are place in the canals in order to absorb and dry any moisture in the canals for the cleaning steps.. After drying, the canals now need to be filled and sealed. To do this, we use a small rubber-like material called gutta percha in a tapering shape that corresponds to the size of the files we used to clean each canal. These gutta percha points are coated with a sealing cement and extended down each canal to the tip of the root where the nerve entered the tooth.

This procedure allows you to save your tooth. With the newer filing techniques in use today, there is much less stress placed on the tooth and that makes the procedure quicker and more comfortable for you both during and after the procedure. I have found in my practice that if we control any existing infection prior to the root canal procedure, my patients rarely complain of any significant pain either during or afterward. I don’t routinely need to prescribe any pain medecine because people don’t need it. They can usually just take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), or aspirin.

So in conclusion, if you are told you need this procedure done on a tooth, it is nothing to dread. The large majority of root canals are now accomplished quickly with little or no discomfort.

great with wall mounted wine rack

December 14, 2010 by John Willy  
Filed under Food And Beverage

Wall mounted wine racks are a good investment for folks who reside in earthquake prone areas. Even a minor tremor can send an unmounted wine rack tumbling to the ground. A wall mounted wine rack will, if it really is correctly secured as instructed, stay stable so long as the wall itself isn’t compromised. This will provide you with peace of mind that the 10 year old bottles of merlot you may have are protected, even when the china is rattling inside the cupboard.

You can find a multitude of types, sizes, materials and designs that can inspire even the occasional wine sipper. Whether or not you like to keep bottles for private use, cooking, special occasions or as a collector you may require a wine rack to store your bottles. These functional attractive racks make a good home appear to amaze.

You must also know that keeping wine at a cool temperature is really a must. Temperatures too warm or too cook will harm your vintage. The result is an embarrassing second when you have friends over, you pop open a treasured vintage plus a distasteful expression seems on their faces.

There are lots of locations exactly where you are able to acquire pre-made plans for making your personal wall mounted wine rack. The internet is a superb resource for such items that may guide you through the process of determining the kind of wine rack you’ll need as well as creating and installing it yourself.

Wall mounted wine racks are amongst the safest, most affordable wine racks obtainable. Because of the weights of the bottle along with the height of the unit necessary to hold a certain capacity of wine, it can be essential and strongly recommended that these units are attached straight to the wall for stability.

There is a diverse choice of wall mounted wine racks that can fit everyone’s decor. Here can be a list of a few of the materials you’ll be able to select from: wrought iron, metal, copper, plastic, wood, leather, glass and stainless steel. There are also some incredibly exclusive designs at your finger suggestions to select from. You’ll find wine tubes, trees, shelves and racks that will be hung from either the wall or ceiling.

So Many Kinds Of Pizza… So Little Time

May 25, 2010 by KC Kudra  
Filed under Food And Beverage

Throughout the history of pizza, many types have been invented. Some are made in certain locations; others are made everywhere. It just goes to show how popular it is all over the world. It is delicious, convenient, and offers a great deal of variety. It does not matter whether you buy your pizza or make it yourself… you are in for a great meal that everyone will enjoy.

Fans of New York style will fold their slices in half while eating them. This style features a crust that is thin and chewy, topped with a sweet tomato sauce and delicious fresh mozzarella. One of the hallmarks of a real New York pizza is the yellow grease that runs down your arm from the rich cheese. You will not find a pile of toppings on a New York pie… they like to enjoy the genius of a simple pizza.

Ike Sewel came up with the idea for Chicago style in 1943. His version was deep dish, with tall sides on the crust to hold in all the toppings. He wanted a pizza that was not only delicious, but also filling. In Chicago, the cheese is put on first, followed by the toppings and finally by the sauce. A dab of margarine in the pan helps crisp up the crust. This is not a hand held kind of pie… you must use a fork and knife.

California pies feature unusual topping combinations and exotic ingredients. After rising, the crust is baked partially, to keep the crust’s height. The crust should be airy, light, and tender. You will often find California style pies with toppings like smoked salmon, feta cheese, and asparagus. Vegetarian toppings are very popular.

Pan style also uses oil in the pan. This fries the bottom of the crust, making it a bit crunchy. It also changes the flavor slightly. Pan style offers a thicker crust that has been raised in the pan before baking. Any kind of toppings can be added.

Cracker style crusts were developed in the 1950s. The dough is slightly fermented, giving it the layered texture of a cracker. This technique was well documented in the history of Pizza Hut. Thin-crust is different from cracker crust. It is usually stretched by hand. The crust on a thin pie is crisp on the outside and soft inside. They are usually served with less sauce and toppings than thick crust varieties.

Focaccia is more than just a bread… it is one of the original ways pizza was served. It did not have a sauce. Oils, vegetables and other toppings were added and baked on. This style has been eaten in Europe long before the tomato was introduced by New World explorers.

Still more styles are invented all the time for example. Tex-Mex versions offer Mexican toppings like corn, picante sauce, shredded beef, and other ingredients on a crust that is made with a percentage of masa flour. The crust is more corn chip-like than a normal crust. Other regional styles may use specific ingredients. For example, in the Midwest, Provolone cheese is preferred to mozzarella.