Overview of a Root Canal
Root canal treatment is an oral dental procedure to cure the infected or damaged tooth. First, the inflamed or infected pulp inside the tooth removed, which connected from the tooth to your gums and bones.
After removing the damaged area, the surface inside the tooth is disinfected and filled with sealing the space.
This procedure can help in avoiding inflammation and can also help in preventing the removal of the tooth.
American Association of Endodontists (AAE) quotes that more than 40,000 root canal procedures are done daily alone in the United States of America, roughly reaching more than 16 million root canal treatments yearly.
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What Symptoms of Root Canal Treatment to Cure The Infected Tooth?
A root pulp infection adequately diagnosed when you visit your dentist. But there are signs you can look for yourself to determine if there is any root pulp infection.
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Applied Pressure on The Tooth
The nerves around the root pulp infected when you touch or try to eat. The slightest touch will trigger unbearable pain.
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Gums are Swollen
A swollen, tender, or puffy gums can contain pus in the area, which indicates a tooth infection. Sometimes, the pus doesn’t drain and results in a swollen jaw.
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Discoloration of Tooth
The tooth’s color changes to a darker tone, black or yellow, primarily to grey, because of the intermittent blood supply.
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Boils The Gum
There might be a boil or a pimple on the gums containing pus. If the pus drained, it causes a nasty smell and taste.
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Very Sensitive to Heat And Cold
Your tooth hurts when you consume hot liquids like tea/coffee or eat cold items like ice cream, and this directs you to visit a dentist for a root canal treatment.
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Cracked Or Chipped Tooth
There is a chance for bacteria to migrate and infect the tooth pulp through a cracked tooth which leads to damage and causes pain in and around the infected tooth.
Expectations and Steps Involved in a Root Canal Procedure
After a visit to your dentist, the dental team will determine the severity of the infected root pulp, and the dentist may suggest providing you the root canal treatment.
Once you are ready to undergo the treatment, the procedure begins.
- The dentist will use a local anesthetic and numb the entire area. If an individual is uncomfortable getting numb or suffering from anxiety, there is also an option for complete sedation dentistry for you to be comfortable.
- They will drill a hole in the tooth using sterilized equipment. Then, they will wash, rinse and disinfect the area several times to remove and clean the infected pulp from the tooth. Also, they might place prescribed medication inside your tooth to kill off remaining bacteria if an infection occurs.
- An X-ray scan ensures the infection eradicated and the root is free from all the damage.
- A dental crown placed during follow-up, where the root canal is filled and sealed with resin to prevent infection and permanently restore the tooth’s structure.
The Time Frame of The Root Canal Procedure
The estimated time frame of a root canal procedure may vary depending on the severity of the infection. Usually, the treatment done between 30 and 60 minutes.
However, the dentist can better estimate how long the procedure will take after a thorough check-up.
Is It Painful During The Root Canal Process?
Generally, a root canal treatment causes discomfort as it is a major dental procedure. But it is not as bad as you may think it is. It’s a simple procedure with bearable pain.
Remember, therapy done to remove the pain once and for all, and neglecting it will eventually lead to excruciating pain and spending on expensive dental treatments.
In addition, the dentist will provide you with medicines to manage the pain and discomfort you will have once the anesthetic wears off.
What are the advantages of Having A Root Canal Procedure?
You will have several benefits once you complete the root canal treatment. The treatment can:
- There is no need to extract the tooth once done with the treatment.
- After the complete root canal therapy, it prevents the infection from spreading to other teeth.
- Relief from the pain after the cure for the infected tooth.
- Reducing the risk of damage to the jawbone.
However, in some cases, Root canal complications can occur if your tooth is too damaged.
You don’t have to worry; root canals are safe and effective. In addition, this procedure boasts impressive success rates of up to 98%.
Oral Care After A Root Canal Therapy
The root canal recovery time can last several days to a week. Sometimes, an individual might feel a little discomfort, which the dentist’s prescribed medication countered.
Once you return home from the clinic, wait a few hours for the numbness to wear off. After that, your diet should only contain soft food like yogurt, pasta, and soups.
For smokers, it is not recommended to smoke as it interferes with the healing process and is a significant risk factor for more dental work in the future.
Practice good oral hygiene every day. For example, rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater to keep food particles out of the vulnerable tooth during this time.
In addition, it is best to brush twice daily and floss only once daily.
How Often Must We Consult The Doctor To Complete The Root Canal Treatment?
Visiting your dentist every six months is ideal for a regular check-up. The dentist will diagnose your tooth’s status and ensure to avoid a root pulp infection.
Therefore, it is best to set an appointment with your dentist regularly to treat any issues regarding your teeth before they worsen.
Important Note
A root canal treatment, also known as root canal therapy, is reflected as a grave treatment.
However, it is less painful than a standard cavity-filling procedure.
It’s also far less painful than worsening a damaged tooth or infection.
Remind yourself now and then to visit your dental healthcare worker, as it’s better to be in the dentist’s chair than in the emergency room due to an unaddressed dental issue.
In addition, you can gain input from your dentist about the severity of the infection, steps and procedures involved in treating the case, expected time to recover, and other questions being answered straight from the dentist and set your expectations accordingly.
A good oral care habit can help you beforehand by avoiding all issues.
Although your dentist treats any problem and keeps your mouth in good health, you also need to follow the steps directed by your healthcare worker at home too.
Remember, brushing and flossing twice daily is the easiest way to keep your mouth healthy.
