Root canal therapy, is crucial for saving infected or damaged teeth. For instance, It alleviates pain, prevents the spread of infection, and maintains the natural tooth structure. In short, this can preserve your overall oral health, preventing the need for more extensive dental procedures.
What happens during a root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment generally requires more than one appointment.
Your dentist or endodontist will:
- take an x-ray of your tooth and the area around it
- use a local anaesthetic to numb the area around your tooth
- place a sheet of rubber called a dam over your tooth to keep the area clean and dry
- drill a hole in the top of your tooth to remove the pulp
- clean and disinfect the canals inside your tooth
- seal your tooth with a temporary filling if more than one session is needed
When the cleaning treatment is finished in one or more appointments, your dentist or endodontist will fill the canal space with a sterile material called gutta percha.
A filling or crown is fixed to your tooth by your dentist to seal it and stop further infection by bacteria.
What do I need to do after a root canal treatment visit?
It’s important to return for all root canal treatment sessions. Your molars (chewing teeth) are put under a lot of pressure when chewing, so they need to be strong. Having a crown fixed over your tooth helps to protect it.
Once the crown is in place you can eat and clean your teeth like normal.
Complications of a root canal treatment
You may have some discomfort and swelling after the procedure. Ask your dentist or endodontist if you should take pain medicine.
Your tooth may look darker afterwards.
Your tooth may be at risk of cracking, but the crown will help to protect it.
What are the benefits and risks of a root canal treatment?
After root canal treatment is complete your tooth should no longer give you pain.
Root canal treatment lets you keep your real tooth. If your tooth is removed, you may need further treatment to replace it. Root canal treatment can also help protect your other teeth from wear and tear.
Root canal therapy appointments can take up to one hour per session. You will need to have a local anaesthetic to make sure there is no pain during the procedure.
Talk to your dentist or endodontist about the costs of a root canal treatment.
What are the alternatives to a root canal treatment?
If you have a badly damaged or infected tooth, the alternative to root canal treatment is to have your tooth removed. Discuss your options with your dentist or endodontist.