Whose legs don’t tremble at the thought of “Root Canal Therapy?”
Root Canal Therapy, medically known as endodontic treatment, is the process of eliminating the infections from teeth. It is a therapy that involves the removal of nerves from the pulp of teeth.
The most mainstream thought about a root canal is that – it is a painful treatment, but it actually is a pain-relieving process. It is an affordable process as compared to tooth removal and replaced by a crown or a bridge.
Here is a general guide for you to know more about the root canal and how it is done. Stay tuned!
Steps Involved –
Basically, the root canal is carried out in three simple steps and requires two to three sessions to complete.
1. Cleaning of the pulp – The first step involves removing everything that is inside the root canal. With a proper diagnosis of the root canal through X-ray, the dentist will determine the area surrounding the bone. After careful determination, the dentist will numb the area with local anesthesia and removes any dead or infected pulp tissue.
2. Filling of the root canal – The next step involves the cleaning and reshaping of the empty area. With the help of dental solutions, the dentist first decontaminates the area and then fill it with a rubber-based material using adhesives to seal the voided area thoroughly.
After filling, the patient will feel no pain because the tooth is now dead and replaced, and the infected nerve has been taken out.
3. Adding a crown – Once the root canal is filled, adding a crown will offer extra protection. As the infected pulp has been taken out, the tooth must receive an adequate amount of nourishment from the ligament that connects the tooth and bone. With time, the tooth will become more brittle, so attaching a crown to it provides support and protection.
Is it Painful?
It is one of the biggest fears among the people who are going to get the root canal done. One thing which you need to understand is the root canal treatment is not painful, but the pain one feels comes from the infection.
Under the treatment of an expert endodontist, the pain will be relatively less. The surgeon will use local anesthesia to numb the surrounding area and alleviate the pain.
If the pain is in excess, the dental surgeon might prescribe some antibiotics and painkillers.
Who Needs Root Canal?
When the pulp gets infected or injured, the tissue inside it dies and can not be repaired naturally. Also, if a person has a cracked tooth or deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp.
The bacteria harm the pulp and eventually affects the bones by causing infections. All this process will be a detriment for ligaments around the tooth, and you will feel constant pain while eating, and the tooth will become sensitive to hot and cold meals.
In such cases, root canal therapy is an excellent option to save the tooth and get rid of continuous pain. Just in case if the tooth cannot be saved, opting for an implant is a great practice.
Final Word
The above mentioned is an overview of what root canal is and how it can be carried out. This guide will help you know if you need a root canal or not.
Apart from that, there are some preventative measures that you can take to avoid any such infection from starting in the first place. For example, brushing your teeth twice or day, regular flossing to prevent the formation of plaque, avoid taking sugar-rich beverages and foods, and using fluoride-based toothpaste.