Root canal treatment is a commonly performed procedure aiming to restore a damaged or infected tooth to its original health and function. The process typically involves removing the soft inner tissue of the tooth, called the pulp, along with any bacteria or infection present.
Once the area is cleaned, it is sealed off with medicated fillings or a cement-like material to protect against further damage or infection. This blog post will provide an overview of root canal treatment and discuss why it might be necessary, what steps are involved in the procedure, and how to best recover after having one done.
Reasons for Getting Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment may be necessary when a patient has either a severely damaged tooth or an infection in their tooth or gum tissue. In either case, the goal is to save the affected tooth by removing any diseased tissue and cleaning out the inside of the cavity before sealing it off with medicated fillings or cement-like material.
Root canal treatment can be a daunting experience for many patients.
It’s often associated with negative thoughts, but it is a safe and reliable treatment with which many people have had success.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is a commonly performed procedure aiming to restore a damaged or infected tooth to its original health and function.
The process typically involves removing the soft inner tissue of the tooth, called the pulp, along with any bacteria or infection present. Once the area is cleaned, it is sealed off with medicated fillings or a cement-like material to protect against further damage or infection.
Reasons for Getting Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment may be necessary when a patient has either a severely damaged tooth or an infection in their tooth or gum tissue.
In either case, the goal is to save the affected tooth by removing any diseased tissue and cleaning out the inside of the cavity before sealing it off with medicated fillings or cement-like material. The purpose is to prevent the infection from spreading and damaging other parts of your mouth and throat.
What are the Benefits of Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment offers numerous benefits, including:
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Protecting other teeth from further damage or infection.
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Restoring your smile to its original beauty.
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Maintaining your natural mouth functions like biting, chewing, and speaking.
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Improving your oral health overall.
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Preventing additional treatments such as extractions or implants.
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Preserving your natural smile and bite alignment.
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Saving time and money in the long term.
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Saving the natural tooth and preventing the need for a costly and uncomfortable alternative like tooth extraction or replacing it with a dental bridge or dental implant.
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Reducing pain and discomfort caused by infection or decay.
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Protecting the unaffected parts of the mouth and replacing lost tooth functions.
Preparing for a Root Canal Treatment
Before starting root canal treatment, your dentist will take x-rays of your mouth to determine the extent of decay or damage.
They may also use other imaging techniques, such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, to better understand how much work needs to be done. Before beginning the procedure, your dentist will discuss what type of anaesthesia is best for you.
Options include local anaesthesia, nitrous oxide, and local anaesthesia with sedation. Your dentist will also discuss possible side effects and how to manage them, if necessary.
During Root Canal Treatment
The root canal procedure typically takes 1-2 hours, depending on how complicated it is.
During the procedure, your dentist will use special tools to access and remove any infected tissue inside your tooth’s root canals. They will then clean and shape these canals before filling them with an antibacterial material and sealing them with a filling material such as composite resin or gutta-percha.
Afterwards, they may need to place a crown on the treated tooth to protect it from further damage or decay. They may also give you a temporary crown to wear while the permanent one is fabricated in a dental laboratory.
Recovery After a Root Canal Procedure
Following your root canal treatment procedure, you must take pain-relieving medications as prescribed by your dentist and follow proper oral hygiene practices, such as brushing twice daily and flossing once daily, to reduce any risk of inflammation or infection in your treated area.
You should also avoid chewing on that side of your jaw until after the healing process is complete so as not to cause any additional damage. Your dentist may also prescribe certain medications to help reduce the swelling and inflammation that may occur after your treatment.
If you have a crown placed after the procedure, you can also expect to wait a few weeks before your permanent crown can be made and placed.
Conclusion
Root canal treatments can be life-changing for those suffering from severe dental issues like decay or infection.
The goal of root canal therapy is ultimately to save teeth that would otherwise need extraction by removing all infected areas within them before sealing them off with medicated fillings or cement-like material. While specific steps are involved—such as the initial evaluation and x-ray imaging with the dentist—and certain precautions must be taken during recovery, including taking pain-relieving medications as prescribed by your dentist, the overall outcome can be very rewarding if adequately executed by experienced professionals.
Most patients enjoy their results for years after treatment with proper aftercare! If you’re considering getting root canal therapy, contact our team today!
We would love to answer any questions you may have about this procedure!