Root Canal Treatment: Things To Know
Dr. Andre Eliasian is a Dentist practicing in Glendale, CA. Dr. Eliasian specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures,... more
A root canal treatment can repair and fix the damaged or infected area of the tooth. Also known as endodontic therapy, this comes with less of a requirement to remove teeth as the endodontist makes an effort to treat the condition. This kind of treatment is often painless and leaves the patient with less uneasiness at the time of recovery as compared to a tooth extraction. For a tooth’s health and function, after it has emerged through the gums, one of the vital elements required is the nerve. The nerve's function is to deliver the sensation of hot or cold, its presence and absence will not affect the everyday functioning of the tooth.
When a tooth’s nerve has been damaged, it breaks down and the appearance of bacteria arises within the pulp chamber. The presence of bacteria along with other debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess can be understood as a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the tooth’s root. An abscess can occur when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the tooth’s root.
Root Canal Procedure
There are several steps for a root canal treatment. First, there will be a procedure to clean the root canal. The patient will be given local anesthesia and the practitioner will make a small access hole on the tooth’s surface and eliminate the diseased or dead pulp tissue with very tiny files. After that, he or she will clean, shape and disinfect the hollow area with the help of tiny files and irrigation solutions. When this process is done, the tooth will be filled with a rubber-like material with the help of an adhesive cement for completely sealing the canals. When the root canal therapy is done, the tooth will be considered dead. There will no longer be tooth pain because the nerves along with the infection have been eliminated.
The tooth will be more easily broken as compared to the prior state. A tooth with no pulp must obtain its sustenance from those ligaments that fasten that tooth to be bone. This supply is sufficient but as time passes, the tooth will be more brittle due to which there will be a requirement for a filling or a crown for protection. One important thing for the patient to know, until the crown or filling is placed, he or she must not chew or bite using that tooth. When the procedure of a filling or a crown is done, the patient is able to use the tooth as normal.
Are There Any Alternatives to Root Canals?
Saving the natural tooth instead of removing it is usually a better option. If someone finds an alternative to a root canal treatment, they will have to extract the tooth. An endodontic treatment tends to assist the person in maintaining their original smile, and continue to eat the foods they like. If the patient is able to maintain proper care, most of the teeth from the root canal treatment can last for a lifetime. This kind of procedure also proves to be efficient because tooth extraction takes much longer because of appointments needed for a bridge, denture, or implant. Crowns have the tendency to function like natural teeth and they have a nice appearance as well.
There might be some complications, such as instead of finding four root canals, the dentist only finds three. If one of any four is left untreated, this can cause an infection that may spread into the bone. When the procedure is taking place, the tooth’s root may crack or the instruments used in the treatment can break the canal. This makes it tough to fill the tooth effectively. Although if there are complications, the specialist will try to correct the problem and complete the overall practice. To get rid of complications, try to follow the instructions given by the dentist.
When the procedure of the root canal is done, taking good care of the teeth and gums is a must. This may require an additional visit to the dentist for an X-ray of the treated tooth, in order to verify that all the symptoms of the infection are gone. In order to prevent infections, gum disease, and decay, it is recommended to brush your teeth at bedtime and at least a single other time each day. Always use a suitable toothbrush and replace it regularly. Make a habit to floss often in order to clean between the teeth and prevent plaque buildup. Read More.
