Dental Care
Root Canal Treatment
What Is Root Canal Treatment:
Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth. Root canal treatment is one type of endodontic treatment.The outer portion of a tooth is a three-layered structure, namely: Enamel, Dentin and Pulp.If the tooth decay is limited to the first two layers, it can be corrected with filling or restoration. In case the tooth decay reaches the third layer and causes infection of pulp, an endodontic Treatment or RCT becomes necessary.
Symptoms Suggest I Need Root Canal Therapy?
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Sensitivity to hot or cold foods
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Swelling in the soft tissue around your specific teeth
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Severe discoloration that doesn’t respond to traditional whitening methods
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Pain in your teeth while chewing or when applying pressure
Why Root Canal Treatment?
RCT is done on an infected or damaged tooth. Infection could be due to a cracked or broken tooth, deep decay, gum diseases or maybe due to repeated dental treatment on a particular tooth. It becomes extremely important to get the Root Canal Treatment as:
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Firstly, It stops the infection from spreading and will then save the tooth from death and extraction
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Secondly,Root Canal Therapy relieves the pain caused due to inflammation and infection.
Steps Involved In Root Canal Therapy:
The following steps are involved in Root canal treatment, such as
Firstly, Your dentist examines and takes a radiograph of the tooth using x-rays, then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth is numb, the endodontist might place a dental dam, a small sheet of rubber that isolates the tooth to keep it clean and dry during the procedure.
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Secondly, dentist will then use very small tools, such as a small drill, to access the inside of the tooth by creating an opening in the top portion of the tooth. After that, he will use small files to clear away the damaged and diseased pulp from the inside of the tooth. He will also use the files to shape the inner chamber of the tooth and root.
Thirdly, after space is cleaned and shaped, the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Your dentist will close the opening in your tooth with a temporary filling, while you wait for the permanent crown.
At fourth step, You have to return to your dentist to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold the restoration in place, your dentist may place a post inside the tooth. Moreover, ask your dentist for more details about the specific restoration planned for your tooth.
Post Treatment Care:
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Chew soft food until final restoration.
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Do not put pressure on the tooth. Putting pressure can cause damage to the tooth.
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Get a dental crown as soon as possible as this will protect your tooth from further damage and will make your RCT successful.
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Be careful while brushing. Do not be too harsh while brushing your teeth.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is the success rate of Root Canal Treatment?
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, root canals, when correctly done, have a success rate of more than 95 percent.
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Do Root Canals Procedures Hurt ?
It is assumed to common people that the treatment causes pain. But actually, the treatment is pain-free.
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Can An Infected Tooth Heal Itself without any endodontic treatment?
The infected tooth will not heal itself and require a proper RCT as soon as possible.
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Why is a crown required after Root canal treatment?
After Root Canal Treatment the tooth tends to become weak and brittle and prone to fracture. That’s why after Root Canal Treatment a crown is vital to protect the tooth and hold it together.