Your dental structure has three key layers. The enamel is the tough outer shell that provides protective coverage. Beneath it lies the dentin, a softer layer that adds support. At the core is the pulp, which contains vital tissues like nerves and blood vessels, keeping the teeth alive.
Bacteria can damage the pulp and cause distress, infection and several other issues in the region. Root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, extracts the dead or unhealthy tissues in the area and cleans the internal structure. Additionally, it protects the crown from further harm.
Signs You Need This Therapy
If you notice the following symptoms, it’s important to search for ‘endodontics near me’ as soon as possible:
- Severe Tooth Pain: You may experience persistent or severe toothache while chewing or biting. The ache could have a throbbing sensation that may worsen at night or when lying down.
- Sensitivity to Temperature: Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks can be more than just a momentary discomfort. The discomfort may escalate to pain and continue long after you’ve finished your coffee or ice cream.
- Tooth Discoloration: Decay and damage in the dental pulp can cause significant discolouration, turning the affected area grey or black.
- Swelling and Tenderness: You may experience swollen gums surrounding the compromised area. The swelling and tenderness can extend to the face and neck as well.
The Root Canal Procedure
The root canal is a multi-step dental treatment that removes infected or damaged tissues inside a tooth. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to the process:
- Diagnosis and Evaluation: Our dentists assess the affected area and surrounding pulp. The X-rays determine the extent of the infection and decide the next step for treatment.
- Local Anesthesia: Specialists administer local anaesthetic to numb the area, ensuring the patient feels no pain during the procedure.
- Isolation: A dental dam, a small rubber sheet, is placed around the affected site to keep it dry and free from saliva.
- Accessing and Cleaning the Pulp Chamber: The specialist drills a small hole in the top of the tooth (the crown) to access the pulp chamber and root canals. They use advanced instruments to remove compromised tissues and reshape the areas to prepare for filling.
- Disinfection: The newly formed canals are disinfected using antiseptic solutions to remove any remaining bacteria and prevent infection.
- Filling the Canals: Doctors clean the cavity and fill it with a rubbery material called gutta-percha. The material seals the canals to prevent bacteria from re-entering.
- Sealing the Tooth: Later, experts seal the area with temporary filling for the teeth.
- Final Restoration: In the last step, the temporary filling is removed and replaced with a permanent dental crown.
Benefits Beyond Pain Relief
Root canal treatment manages discomfort and restores oral health. However, it offers numerous other benefits like:
- Preserve Teeth: This therapy saves the natural tooth from extraction. Dentists remove the infected tissues and seal the structure, making the teeth fit for chewing and speaking.
- Prevention of Further Infection: The procedure removes the infection from the source and prevents it from spreading to adjacent teeth and gums. It reduces the risk of abscesses and other serious issues.
- Maintenance of Jawbone Density: The loss of the crown and rest of the teeth causes surrounding bone to deteriorate, leading to changes in facial appearance and function. This procedure preserves natural teeth, maintaining jawbone density and facial structure.
- Cost-effectiveness: Although the treatment may seem costly upfront. However, it is often more economical in the long run.