Everything You Need to Know About Root Canal Therapy
The human teeth are an integral part of the human body that you cannot do without. Without teeth, you cannot speak distinctly as the words would slur inside the mouth. Teeth also have aesthetic value and impart confidence and self-esteem. Without teeth chewing food would become difficult.
Teeth have an immense workload, and the structure of teeth might deteriorate with time and usage. The human teeth are differentiated into different parts. Broadly the teeth are classified into crown and roots. The part above the gum is the crown, while the part below the gum is called the root.
Root Canal Treatment – An Overview
The root canal is not a dental treatment but is a part of your tooth. The root canal is the hollow part of the tooth that houses the delicate nerves, blood vessels, or pulp. The pulp nourishes the tooth and moistens the surrounding vessels and capillaries. The sensitivity of the tooth is determined by the nerves present in the root of the tooth.
Root canal therapy is an endodontic treatment performed by experienced dentists in a dental clinic to repair or protect a badly infected or decayed tooth. The pulp or underlying soft tissues might get inflamed or irritated due to cavities, dental trauma, or infections. A large filling or a chirp in the tooth might also lead to disruption to the pulp.
What to Expect During Root Canal Therapy?
A dentist in Coquitlam, BC, can perform root canal therapy. Your oral health increases manifold with a disease-free oral cavity. The process involves three steps:
#1: The Cleaning
The root canal is cleaned thoroughly by the dentist. Under the influence of local anesthesia, small holes are drilled on the teeth’ surface to clear the derbies and dead pulp. Once space is cleaned, root canal therapy can be done by the dent
#2: Filling the Hollow Root Canal
The hollow space under the tooth from where the dead pulp is removed is decontaminated and filled with a sticky rubber-like material called dental sealants. Once root canal therapy is administered, the tooth is dead, and you would not feel any sensation. Since there are no more nerve endings, you are free from further pain arising from that tooth. The chances of further infection in that tooth are also eliminated.
#3: Addition of Crown of Dental Filling
Once the pulp is removed, the tooth is more fragile and would need additional support. Without pulp, the tooth would draw nourishment from surrounding ligaments. The crown or filling could provide support to the brittle tooth.
Signs That Root Canal Is Needed
The crown might remain intact even if the pulp is infected or dead. So, the symptoms of the need for root canal therapy are underlying. The most common cause of dead pulp might be:
- Chipped tooth.
- Multiple dental treatments on the same tooth.
- Untreated decay.
- Dental trauma.
The most prominent symptoms of the need to undergo root canal therapy include:
- Immense pain in the teeth and gum.
- Swelling and sensation of heat in the gums.
- Pimples on the gum.
- Swollen or tender gums.
- Darkened gums or signs of deep decay.
- Chipped or cracked tooth.
- Tooth decay.
- Tooth sensitivity that lingers for long.
The Recovery
Your oral cavity would be numb even after a couple of hours after root canal therapy as the treatment is done under the influence of local anesthesia. You might go to work directly after the treatment, but you can experience discomfort.
The first few days after root canal therapy can be difficult to chew food or to talk freely due to tenderness, inflammation, or tooth sensitivity. Over-the-counter medication can ease the discomfort. It is advised to wait a few days until permanent filling is done to strengthen the tooth. The recovery time of root canal therapy is generally seven days.
Root Canal Therapy Outlook
Root canal therapy has a success rate of 95% and has numerous benefits. The expenditure varies depending on the severity of the dental issue. The rate might range from $500 to $1000 for an incisor, and the rate might increase to $800 to $1500 for a molar.
Tri-Cities Dental Specialists provide modern solutions for your dental needs. You may book an appointment and experience our experienced dental specialist who has flexible schedules to meet your timings. With state-of-art technology, we provide dental implants, periodontal treatments, and root canal therapy.