Tooth pain due to severe decay involving the pulp can be debilitating, negatively impacting your routine life. Root canal treatment is a common dental procedure opted by dentists that helps restore a severely decayed or damaged tooth. It is an excellent way of preserving your tooth and avoiding the need for extractions.
The Newtonbrook West family dentist, and their team offer a holistic approach to severely decayed teeth through root canal therapy. These procedures eliminate infection and restore your oral form, function, and aesthetics.
Understanding the concept behind root canal therapy
An endodontic procedure that aims to eliminate infection from the tooth by removing the infected and inflamed pulp (chambers and canals) and restoring it with a biocompatible material (gutta percha) is known as a root canal therapy. The pulp is the innermost mass of connective tissue comprising the blood vessels and nerves that actively nourish the tooth. Root canal treatment (RCT) is a last resort used by dentists to save a severely damaged tooth from extractions, thereby enhancing your oral health, and aesthetics.
Warning signs to look out for:
There are a few warning signs and symptoms that make it mandatory to undergo an RCT. These include:
- Excruciating pain in the tooth that does not subside easily even after taking medications
- Increased sensitivity to heat and cold temperatures
- Visibly swollen gums
- Presence of an abscess (pus-filled pocket) around the affected tooth
- Swollen jaw causing facial asymmetry
- Tooth discoloration
- Pain while biting or chewing
- A chipped or cracked tooth
- Loose tooth
The procedure involved in root canal treatment
Root canal therapy is a simple outpatient procedure performed in one or two sessions. It involves the following:
Tooth inspection: Your dentist will check the affected tooth for pain, sensitivity, and gum changes. A dental X-ray will be taken to assess the extent of pulpal involvement and study the root morphology.
Cleaning the root canal: Your dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the tooth, followed by isolating the tooth with a rubber dam. This helps prevent excess moisture. Next, using ultrasonic instruments, the decayed tissues will be excavated, and an access opening will be made to expose the roots. Your dentist will remove the entire pulp along the length of the root canals.
Biomechanical preparation and filling the root canal: Later on, your dentist will clean, shape, and sterilize the canals using tiny files and irrigating solutions. The tooth will then be filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha, and an adhesive cement is used to seal everything together.
Bottom line
The RC-treated tooth will be sealed with dental cement and permanently restored with a crown or bridge. This can significantly regain your natural tooth to its original form, function, and aesthetics.
