When the pulp of your tooth becomes inflamed or infected due to deep decay, and the pain has worsened, you may require root canal therapy performed by an endodontist or dentist near you! It is one of the most common dental procedures that save millions of teeth providing relief from toothaches and restoring people’s smiles. Now, it is not a bad idea to know what the root canal treatment process involves before you go in for it.
WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?
It is a type of endodontic treatment, one that deals with the inside of a tooth. Let us dig a little deep to understand the anatomy of a tooth! Under the hard enamel of the tooth, there is a hollow center filled with pulp. This pulp comprises a mass of blood vessels, fine nerves, and connective tissue that nourishes the hard tissue of the tooth during development. These are also responsible for sensation in the tooth.
Sometimes the hard enamel of the tooth is cracked exposing the pulp and hence causing inflammation or infection of the root. It could be caused by an accident or general tooth decay that has gone untreated for too long forming an abscess.
When this happens, it might be time to visit your root canal dentist in Millwoods.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A ROOT CANAL?
This endodontic procedure follows these steps –
- Your dentist will start with numbing the area around the affected tooth, using local anesthetic.
- Then follows the emptying out of the pulp within the tooth which has been infected. This infected mass of blood vessels and nerves, if left untreated, can form an abscess or cavity. Mature teeth do not need the pulp anymore, as they receive their nourishment from the surrounding living tissue. As such, it is safe to remove this pulp in adults.
- The hollow of the tooth is then cleaned and sanitized to get rid of all infected tissues. The pulp chamber is then shaped to prepare for a filling.
- Filling, which is made of a rubber-like substance made out of a biocompatible material, called gutta-percha, is used with an adhesive to completely seal the root canal.
- Lastly, a temporary crown is placed on top to protect the site of restoration, till a permanent crown is available.
- Later, your dentist in Millwoods will call you in to finish the tooth restoration by placing a permanent crown.
HOW PAINFUL IS A ROOT CANAL?
Like any other dental ailment, a severe toothache is the first sign that you need a root canal. Though root canals are notorious for being painful, the toothache you experience due to infection or decay is much worse than the treatment to remove the infection. Also, with the use of modern anesthetics and painkillers, most patients find the treatment comfortable.
After the treatment is over, you might feel some sensation in the affected area for a few days, and any pain that arises can be relieved with prescribed medication.
Your tooth might also feel a little out-of-place or different from the rest of your teeth, which is absolutely normal.
SOME OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
- The root canal dentist near you might advise you to avoid chewing around the restored tooth until the permanent crown is put in place.
- Regular oral hygiene practices and dental cleaning are enough after the treatment to maintain the root canal.
- The success rate of a root canal is so high that nearly all of them last as long as the natural teeth.