Has your endodontist or dentist performed a dental exam and established that you require a root canal? If this is the case, don't worry. Over 15 million teeth undergo treatment and get saved yearly with endodontic or root canal treatment. This procedure can help save a tooth that may have otherwise been taken out entirely. This read aims to explain endodontic therapy in detail and how it can help save your smile.
At times, bacteria gain entry into the tooth’s pulp and resulting in an infection. This often occurs when a cavity is left to worsen over a prolonged duration. It can also happen if your tooth gets damaged or cracked because of trauma. When this happens, you may need to undergo a dental procedure referred to as root canal therapy to save the afflicted tooth. Also referred to as endodontic therapy, this procedure entails removing the infected pulp and sealing the tooth to prevent future infections.
Root canal treatment is necessary when the inner part of a tooth (the root canal) becomes irreversibly infected or damaged. This damage can arise from any number of injuries that may happen over the lifespan of the tooth and can occur after damaged restorations, decay, or trauma. Root canal treatment is required when dental X-rays indicate pulp damage due to bacterial infection. If bacteria infect the pulp, it will get inflamed, enabling the bacteria to increase and spread. Root canal therapy will entail removing the whole nerve in the root canal, from where the canal system is disinfected, shaped, and cleaned. The space in the tooth will then be filled and sealed.
In some circumstances, you may not be aware that you have an infected or damaged tooth. Tell-tale signs that show you require a root canal procedure include:
If you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may need to consult a specialist dentist for help. Contact Naples Dental Boutique in Naples, FL, to book an appointment and evaluation.
This procedure is conducted in three steps and takes around one to three sessions.
1. Cleaning the root canal
The dentist will first wash out everything in the root canal. While under local anesthesia, a small access hole will be drilled on the tooth’s surface and taken out the dead and diseased pulp tissue using an extremely small filed.
2. Filling the root canal
From there, the dentist cleans, disinfects, and shapes the hollow part using small files and irrigation solutions. Rubber-like material is then used to fill the tooth using an adhesive cement to help seal the canals.
After undergoing root canal therapy, the tooth operated on will be dead. The patient won’t suffer any more pain as the nerve tissue inside the tooth has been removed and the infection eradicated.
3. Adding a filling or crown
But the tooth will become weaker compared to its previous state. A tooth that doesn’t have a pulp must get its sustenance from ligaments connected to the tooth of the jawbone. The supply is enough, but the tooth will become frail as time lapses. Hence a filing or crown provides protection.
A patient should not bite or chew on the tooth before the crown filling is done. The procedure usually happens over a single appointment. However, if there are multi-canals or serious infections, it could require two extra appointments.
Our seasoned and specialist endodontists have been undertaking procedures for years. They can help mitigate multiple potential risks with their expertise. Please call today to book an appointment and examination.
A “root canal” isn’t any form of treatment but a component of a tooth. The hollow part of a tooth encloses the blood vessels, nerve tissue, and other cells, also referred to as the pulp. The dental procedure popularly known as a “root canal” is, in fact, endodontic therapy, which translates to “inside the tooth.” But the phrase “root canal” has come to be used to refer to the procedure.
Although most people presume the procedure is painful, it is a pain-relieving treatment. With a range of local anesthetic solutions, specialists, and modern techniques, you won’t feel anything during the procedure. For a couple of days afterward, when biting, you feel a bit sensitive in the tooth. This uneasiness can be lessened by using over-the-counter or prescription drugs to manage normal post-treatment uneasiness.
A standard root canal procedure lasts about 30 minutes to one hour, presuming the tooth has one canal. But the appointment may go up to 90 minutes because of the several steps.
Similar to other procedures, the treatment comes with its disadvantages:
If these mishaps happen, a specialist may rectify the issue and finish the root canal.
