Root Canal Treatment / Endodontic
Root Canal is actually a channel that runs from the base of the tooth to the apex of the tooth root and connects it to the bone. The canal contains blood vessels, nerves and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is called the pulp.
How bacteria get to the pulp and causes pain?
When a tooth is decayed, damaged or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it becomes inflamed and infected. When the pulp becomes inflamed, it becomes harder for the blood to flow in pulp and it gets damaged, diseased or dead. The resulting pressure causes pain inside the affected tooth. This condition is known as Root Canal Disease (Pulpitis).
Symptoms you may be suffering
- Lingering tooth sensitivity to cold / hot liquids
- Tooth sensitivity to sweets
- Tooth pain on biting / pressure
- Tooth pain that is referred from a tooth to another area, such as neck, temple or the ear
- Spontaneous tooth pain, such as experienced while reading a magazine, watching television etc.
- Constant or intermittent tooth pain
- Throbbing tooth pain
- Tooth pain that may occur in response to atmospheric pressure changes, such as when flying or scuba diving
- Tooth pain that may occur in response to postural changes, such as going from a standing to reclining position
- Swelling around tooth
How to get relief from the pain/symptoms?
There are two ways to get relief from the pain/symptoms:-
- Root Canal treatment
- Pull the tooth out, clean the gum below and replace the tooth with a Dental Implant.
WE AT K.B. DENTAL CLINIC ADVISE PULLING OUT A TOOTH AS A LAST RESORT AND TRY TO SAVE IT WITH ROOT CANAL TREATMENT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NATURAL TEETH ARE THE ONES BEST SUITED FOR HIS/ HER MOUTH
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root Canal treatment is removal of damaged, diseased or dead pulp from an infected tooth and cleaning, shaping and filling the remaining space with the inert filling material. This is basically done to:-
- To save the original tooth, allow it to be retained in the mouth for coming years in the state of health, function and comfort instead of replacing it with an artificial tooth/ bridge.
- To eliminate the pain.
- To prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into jaw.
How is a Root Canal Treatment Done?
A root Canal treatment consists of the following steps:-
First anaesthesia and administered to make the procedure painless. Then, an opening is made through the back of a front tooth or the crown of a molar or pre-molar.
- After the diseased pulp is removed, the pulp chamber / root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped in preparation for being filled.
- If more than one visit is needed, a temporary filling is placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between visits.
- The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber / root canal restored.
- In the final step, a crown is usually placed over the tooth to restore its natural shape and appearance.
How Long Will The Restored Tooth Last?
A properly treated and restored tooth can last a lifetime with proper care. In order to ensure that no decay takes place in the treated tooth, good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups are necessary.
Most Common causes of Pulp Damage and infection are:
- A Cracked Tooth
- A Deep Cavity
- An injury to a Tooth
Once the pulp is infected, if left untreated, there can be pus build up at the root tip in the jawbone, forming an abscess. In addition to causing pain, an abscess can destroy the bone, surrounding the tooth and weaken the structure that holds the teeth in the mouth. It is, therefore, very important to get Root Canal Treatment done as quickly as possible.
