Root canal treatment

July 18, 2022, Contident

Root Canal Treatment

You walk into a dental office to have your troublesome tooth examined. After a checkup, the dentist tells you the only option to save your affected tooth is to undergo root canal treatment. Most patients have always associated this procedure with pain and discomfort. Fortunately, you can drop your dental anxiety or phobia, as root canals are painless because the dentist will use a type of anaesthesia.

WHAT IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?

A root canal treatment involves removing the inner tooth tissues (pulp) to prevent an infection from worsening or developing again and putting you at risk of tooth loss. An infection in the root canal can also lead to other issues beyond your mouth. Undergoing this procedure as soon as possible is necessary to save your natural teeth, get pain relief, and improve oral health.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM A CANDIDATE FOR A ROOT CANAL?

A root canal therapy may be recommended for cracked or chipped teeth, deep cavities, or a failed filling. Visit the dentist for a root canal diagnosis if you notice the following signs and symptoms.

-Increased tooth sensitivity to cold and hot foods or drinks

-Tooth hurts when you bite down, chew, or touch it

-Dental abscess or gum boil

- Tender or swollen gums

- Gums have turned black/grey

- Tooth appears severely decayed

- A crack or chip in the tooth

HOW LONG DOES A ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE TAKE?

Depending on the complexity of a dental case, the procedure can take up to 90 minutes or even more. Generally, the root canal sessions for most patients last about 30 to 60 minutes. Patients usually need one or two sessions to complete the treatment.

HOW IS A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PERFORMED?

First, the dentist must check the severity of the infection and confirm that you need a root canal. They will take X-rays and may do a pulp vitality test.

The next step is to apply numbing medication to the gums surrounding your troublesome tooth. Then the doctor administers a local anaesthetic into your gums.

It takes a few minutes for the injection to numb the tooth. After numbing, the dentist will drill a small hole into your affected teeth. Through that opening, the doctor removes the pulp, bacteria, and debris from the affected tooth using specialised root canal files. The dental pulp contains connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

Once your dentist has removed the pulp and bacteria, they will thoroughly clean the root canals. The oral surgeon puts medication inside your tooth to disinfect or clear an infection.

After the cleaning and disinfecting steps, the tooth’s interior gets filled and sealed. The doctor may prescribe pain medications and antibiotics.

Temporary filling applies if the treatment cannot be completed on the same day.

DOES IT HURT?

Don’t let the fear of pain hold you back from getting root canal treatment. With local anaesthesia, expect no pain during the procedure. It is normal to feel a little pressure on the tooth.

The pain patients might experience actually comes from the infected tooth, not the procedure. But the pain will go away once you complete the root canal treatment.

Saying root canal therapies are painful is a myth.

As the numbing medication injected into your gums wears off, the treated area may feel a little sore and uncomfortable. And this can take a few days. However, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers to manage the mild discomfort. Return to the doctor if the problem persists after a week.

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