What to Expect from Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment, also known as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy, is a dental treatment for removing an infection from inside a tooth. It can also protect the tooth from future infections. It is carried out in the pulp of the tooth, which is the root canal.
Fast Facts About Root Canal Therapy
- Root canal therapy is used to remove nerves from the pulp of a tooth.
- It is thought to be very painful, but it is a pain-relieving treatment.
- The procedure, often referred to as a root canal, is called endodontic therapy.
- Root canal therapy costs vary, but it is a less expensive option than removing a tooth and replacing it with a crown or bridge.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
A tooth consists of a crown and roots. The crown is above the gum line, while the roots are below it. The roots attach the tooth to the jawbone. Inside the crown and the root, or the root canal, is the pulp. The pulp nourishes the tooth and provides moisture to the surrounding material. The nerves in the pulp sense hot and cold temperatures as pain. A “root canal” is not a treatment, but part of a tooth. It is the hollow section of a tooth that contains the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells, also known as the pulp.
The dental procedure commonly referred to as a “root canal” is actually endodontic therapy, which means “inside the tooth.” However, the term “root canal” is commonly used to refer to the procedure. Root canal therapy is completed in three steps and often takes only one appointment, but if there are curved canals, multiple canals, or a large infection, it may require one or two additional appointments.
- Cleaning the root canal: First, the dentist removes everything from the root canal. With the patient under local anesthesia, the dentist makes a small access hole on the tooth’s surface and removes the diseased and dead pulp tissue with very small files.
- Filling the root canal: Next, the dentist cleans, shapes, and decontaminates the hollow area, using tiny files and irrigation solutions. Then, the tooth is filled with a rubber-like material, using an adhesive cement to seal the canals completely.
- After root canal therapy, the tooth is dead. The patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth because the nerve tissue has been removed, and the infection has been eliminated.
- Adding a crown or filling: The tooth will be more fragile than it was before. A tooth with no pulp must receive its nourishment from the ligament that attaches the tooth to the bone. This supply is adequate, but in time, the tooth will become more brittle, so a crown or filling offers protection.
How Painful Is It?
One of the great fears about this kind of treatment is that it will be painful, but the pain comes from the infection, not from the treatment. The treatment does not cause pain. It helps to alleviate it. When performed by a trained dentist, the procedure should be relatively painless. The dentist will numb the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthesia.
After the treatment, some tenderness is normal. It is temporary, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may be enough to relieve it. If needed, prescription drugs, such as codeine, are available. The dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to treat or prevent infection.
When Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?
A deep cavity, a cracked tooth, or a loose filling can allow bacteria to enter the pulp. The bacteria will eventually destroy the pulp. When pulp becomes injured or diseased, it cannot repair itself, and the tissue dies. A pulp injury will make the tooth sensitive to high and low temperatures. There may be pain when chewing, and some people have a continuous, throbbing pain.
If bacteria penetrate the root openings, they can cause an infection in the bone. An infection will weaken the bone and cause it to break down. The ligaments around the tooth will swell, and the tooth will become loose. Without treatment, the infection will spread. Eventually, the tooth will become loose and need to be extracted. Some patients opt for extraction, especially if they are in severe pain or if the tooth cannot be restored due to large decay, trauma, or loss of bone due to periodontal disease. However, removing a tooth may cause the surrounding teeth to move and become crooked.
Root canal therapy will usually save the tooth and eliminate the pain. Saving the natural tooth is best, if possible, because nothing functions as well as a natural tooth.
What Does it Cost?
The cost of dental treatment varies widely, but saving the tooth with a root canal is relatively cost-efficient. The other option is extraction, and the cost of an implant or bridge to replace the tooth afterward is usually more expensive. Extraction can also lead to malocclusion (misaligned teeth) and difficulty chewing.
Complications
As with any procedure, complications can occur. Sometimes the dentist only finds three root canals in a tooth that has four. If one canal remains untreated, the infection might continue and spread into the bone. Your dentist must also ensure the filling material extends far enough into the canal to fill it. If the root canal is not properly sealed, the infection could return. During the procedure, the tooth root may crack, or the instruments may break in the canal or perforate it. This makes it hard to fill the tooth effectively. To avoid complications, patients should always follow the dentist’s instructions. If an antibiotic is needed, it is important to finish the entire prescription. It is essential to place a permanent restoration, such as a crown, after root canal therapy is complete to help protect the tooth from infection.
Root canal treatment can relieve pain and save your natural tooth. Contact us to schedule an emergency consultation and get relief, fast. We offer same-day emergency appointments to get you the care you need as quickly as possible.
