How Cumbersome Is a Root Canal Treatment?
The mere mention of a root canal can send shivers down the spine of every individual believing that it is a cumbersome procedure that causes not just pain in the mouth but also in the wallet. However, unless the dental work needed is complex in which case the root canal dentist would be referring you to endodontic specialists you can rest assured that the procedure is neither painful or will leave a big dent in your wallet. Let us look at how a root canal is performed.
Performing A Root Canal Procedure
The treatment for a root canal will be conducted by your dentist in a couple of appointments. You will be required to pay for the treatment unless you are covered by dental insurance.
For conducting the treatment your dentist will obtain a series of x-rays of the affected tooth. The x-rays make it possible for the dentist to assess the extent of the damage and to understand the complexity of the case.
Root canal treatments are usually conducted under local anesthesia which is a painkiller that numbs the infected tooth and the gums around it. Some cases have been observed where the tooth has died and the need for a local anesthetic is not required.
Removing the Infected Pulp
The dentist will place a rubber dam around the tooth to ensure dryness during the treatment. It also prevents you from swallowing or breathing in any chemicals used by the dentist.
An opening will be made in your tooth by the dentist through the crown to access the soft tissue at the core of the tooth which is the pulp. The dentist will remove the infected pulp that is present within the tooth. Your dentist will also drain any dental abscess if present at the same time.
Disinfecting and Filling the Root Canal
After the pulp is removed your dentist will disinfect and enlarge the root canals which is usually narrow and has insufficient space for a filling.
Small files will be used to enlarge the canal into a regular size to enable filling. This part of the treatment may require several hours and may need to be conducted on multiple visits. A root canal on the front teeth will be easier to complete because it only has a single root with one canal. The molars or the premolars have multiple roots and canals. The number of roots within the tooth will determine the time needed to complete the treatment.
If the treatment needs several visits to be completed your dentist will put some medicine in the cleaned canal between visits to eradicate any remaining bacteria. The tooth will be sealed with a temporary filling. You will be provided with antibiotics if you’re displaying any signs of infections or symptoms which indicate one.
Fixing And Sealing The Tooth
During your subsequent visit, the temporary filling and medication will be removed and a root canal filling will be inserted. It is to fill and seal the tooth for preventing re-infections. A tooth that has undergone a root canal will be fragile than healthy unrestored teeth and your dentist will suggest a crown over the tooth to protect it. The discoloration is common among root-filled teeth especially if it has died because of an injury from a knock to the tooth. Dentists can, however, treat the discoloration with whitening agents.
Restoring the Tooth
The tooth can be restored by adding a crown that completely covers the real tooth. A crown will become necessary after root canal treatment to prevent the tooth from fracturing. The dentist will reduce the size of the tooth to replace what has been removed. A mold of your tooth will be taken to ensure the crown is developed to fit your tooth precisely. If there is very little tooth left after the root canal treatment a post will be cemented in the root canal to help retain the crown in place.
How Successful Is the Treatment?
The dentist in Ajax, as well as the endodontists near you, will confirm that root canal treatments are highly successful. They can clear the infection in the tooth and save it from extraction. The survival rate of the tooth increases significantly when you have a crown fitted over the tooth. If you follow proper oral hygiene habits as recommended by Rossland Landing Dental Care the treated tooth will survive for a long time. The survival of the tooth depends on several factors including:
- How much of your natural tooth remains.
- What kind of biting pressure is the tooth being subjected to?
- Your oral hygiene habits.
If an infection does occur again the root canal treatment can be repeated.
A root canal treatment is neither cumbersome nor painful and is undergone by hundreds of thousands of people. The fears that have been circulated are mere rumors and are better ignored if you have been recommended the treatment to remove the infection from within your tooth.