The words “Root Canal Treatment” instils fear of pain and the high cost involved in everyone’s mind. However, before understanding facts about a typical Root Canal Treatment, one should not feel overwhelmed. This treatment is otherwise known as ‘’endodontic therapy’’, and the treatment aims at eliminating infection from a problematic tooth. Furthermore, it can prevent your tooth from any infection in the future. Want to know more about root canal treatment? Then, read this post, which will help to provide some understanding.
Root Canal Treatment: A Quick Introduction
As the name suggests, Root Canal is not a typical treatment. It comprises a part of a tooth, which is the section of the tooth that has a hollow in it. This part also contains the blood vessels, nerve tissue and some other cells alternatively known as the pulp. The best dentist in Mississauga, Dr. Beena George Dentistry provides Root Canal Treatment.
The basic structure of every tooth includes a root and a crown. The root remains below the gum (and is not visible) while the crown remains above it (which is the visible part of the tooth). This root is responsible for attaching the tooth to your jawbone. Inside this root there are several canals that contain the pulp.
Role of the Pulp
The pulp chiefly nourishes your tooth and gives moisture to the material surrounding it. When a tooth has an infection, pain arises in the pulp when the person takes any sip of any hot or cold drink. Although people generally refer to this treatment as “Root Canal Treatment”; “Endodontic Therapy” is a more appropriate term for use, where the term ‘’endodontic’’ means inside the tooth.
The Root Canal Treatment procedure
There are three main steps involved in the ‘’Root Canal Treatment’’ procedure. A summary of each of the steps is given below:
Cleaning the root canal
During this procedure, the patient will be given local anesthesia. The dentist will make a small hollow on the tooth’s surface and remove the dead and infected pulp by using extremely fine tipped files with a lot of precision.
Filling the Root Canal
Once the above procedure is completed, your dentist will decontaminate, shape and clean the hole by using small-sized files. Also, he or she will use effective irrigation solutions to complete this task properly. After that, your dentist will pack the tooth with a rubber-like biocompatible material. Finally, a block of adhesive cement is used to seal the canals forever. The tooth is considered dead after the root canal therapy is completed. As a patient, you won’t feel any more pain in your tooth because the nerve tissue and the surrounding infection were removed and cleaned.
Placing a crown
Once the procedure gets over, the tooth will now be weaker than before and has a tendency to fracture. While this tooth should get sufficient nourishment from the ligament that attaches the treated tooth to your bone, over time the tooth will become fragile once again. This is where the need for a crown arises. The patient must not bite or chew on anything hard until the crown is placed. Once the crown is complete, the patient can use the tooth like before.
Suitability for a root canal treatment
In case, the pulp becomes injured or infected, it cannot be repaired automatically. As a result, the surrounding tissue dies as well. Bacteria will likely enter the pulp if there is a cracked tooth, severe cavity or loose filling and gradually destroy the pulp. Also, if the bacteria penetrate via root openings, it can cause infection in the bone. This kind of infection can weaken and break down the bone completely. As a result, the ligaments attached to the bone will swell, causing the tooth to become loose subsequently.
Pulp Injury
Patients with pulp injury usually have high tooth sensitivity to low and high temperatures. The patient normally feels the pain while chewing anything. Also, he or she can feel a constant throbbing pain inside the mouth. In such a situation, proper treatment must be done immediately, otherwise the infection will spread further. Once the tooth becomes loose, it should be extracted right away. An extraction is an effective treatment for anyone whose tooth is cannot be restored or when the pain is unbearable. Some of the conditions that can compel a patient to opt for tooth extraction are:
- Severe tooth decay
- Extensive bone loss in the tooth
- Massive tooth trauma etc.
These conditions can get triggered by a gum or periodontal disease etc. Once the tooth is removed, it means the surrounding teeth may shift and there is a potential to become crooked. Consequently, biting becomes difficult and your tooth also becomes noticeably more fragile.
Root Canal Treatment: The Ultimate Solution
In case, the tooth cannot be restored, an available option is an implant, which is very expensive. However, with good quality root canal treatment, you can save your tooth fairly easily. Root canal treatment can restore the natural tooth effectively, which is the most effective method.
Should I proceed with a Root Canal Treatment? Thinking about a Root Canal Treatment? Hopefully, the post above gave a comprehensive idea about what is involved. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to book a consultation with Dr. Beena George Dentistry, the best dental clinic in Mississauga.
