Patients choose to have root canals when they wish to save a tooth that would otherwise have to be removed.
Are Root Canal Treatments Painful?
No they are not. They actually relieve pain.
Root canal treatments are often necessary when there is evidence of a dental abscess, which is a pocket of pus surrounding an infected area. This can cause intense pain in the affected tooth or gum, which can be even more distressing when lying on your side. The pain may radiate from the tooth to the neck or ear. Additional signs of a tooth abscess include a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath, sensitivity to chewing or pressure, and swelling around the affected tooth or gum.
If you suspect you have a dental abscess, it's crucial to seek immediate dental attention. Delaying treatment can lead to increasing pain and sleepless nights. The dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection and may advise rinsing with hot salty water to help eliminate pus. In severe cases, an emergency dental extraction or a root canal procedure may be necessary.
Possible Signs If A Root Canal Is Needed:
- There may be an abscess or pimple on the gums.
- The tooth may become sensitive to hot and cold.
- The patient may experience severe tooth ache.
- There may be swelling or tenderness around the tooth.
Reasons For Root Canal Therapy:
The decay inside the tooth has reached the pulp of the tooth (the living tissue inside the tooth); the infection may have become an abscess which has developed at the root tip, or there may have been injury or trauma to the tooth.
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
If you damage a dental filling, it‘s important to go to the dentist as soon as possible to get it fixed. Even a microscopic fracture in your filling can permit microorganisms from your mouth to slip between the filling and your tooth. If microorganisms make it beneath your filling, dental cavity can occur. If decay gets to the internal layer of your tooth (the pulp), you might need a root canal or, in many cases, a tooth extraction.
Root canal treatment (additionally called endodontics) takes on infection at the centre of a tooth (the origin canal system). When the blood or nerve supply of the tooth has actually come to be infected, the infection will certainly spread out and the tooth might need to be taken out if origin canal treatment isn’t carried out. Throughout treatment, all the infection is removed from inside the origin canal system. The origin canal is loaded and the tooth is sealed with a filling or crown to quit it ending up being infected once more.
If you have actually been advised to opt for origin canal treatment and if this is your very first time, you could be worried. Being informed about what origin canal treatment is all about, makes you better prepared and much less anxious. Root canal treatment becomes needed when the tooth pulp becomes irritated or infected, resulting in severe tooth discomfort and, at some point, damaging the pulp. Root canal treatment conserves the tooth and eliminates the discomfort.
It prevails to obtain severe jaw discomfort after origin canal. One of the most typical cause is the period for which the mouth is opened during the origin canal treatment. Any injury brought on by the instruments used in the treatment to the surrounding locations of canal might additionally be a factor behind the discomfort. Jaw discomfort on one side might show the impact of the origin canal at the particular area.
Caps, additionally referred to as crowns, might be needed when the exposed part of the tooth is harmed however the roots are structurally sound. Lots of things can trigger damages to the surface area of the tooth, such as grinding, aging, an incorrect bite, old fillings or dental cavity. Including a cap in addition to the harmed tooth can help provide the durability and strength that was otherwise missing and give it a smooth, healthy and balanced look.
Crowns are often classified as cosmetic when employed to enhance the appearance of an unattractive tooth. However, they are generally not categorized as cosmetic when used to restore a deteriorating tooth or to cover the gap resulting from a root canal procedure.
A dental crown might be needed to help recover the functionality of a tooth. For example, to protect or hold together a harmed or deteriorated tooth, to replace a missing tooth (the crown covers the dental implant), or recover a tooth adhering to a root canal.
Root Canal Re-Treatment
Are Root Canal Re-Treatments Common?
Yes they are. They often happen after a failed root canal treatment.
With the correct care after a root canal, most teeth will last as long as natural teeth. However, some teeth that have had endodontic treatment (a root canal) fail to heal and may become re-infected. The tooth may become painful and infected months or even years after treatment.
If your previous root canal has developed new problems then you have a second chance. Another endodontic treatment may have to be performed in order to save your tooth.
There May Be A Variety Of Reasons For This Happening:
- The narrow or curved canals were not treated during the initial procedure.
- The dentist was not able to treat the first root canal properly due to complicated root canal anatomy.
- Saliva contaminated the tooth during the first restoration.
However you may have a second chance to save your tooth with endodontic treatment.
In some cases it may be for different reasons that the previous root canals has failed.
EG:
New decay in the tooth can expose the inside of the tooth root canal filling to bacteria which causes a fresh infection.
A loose, cracked, broken or loose crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection.
The tooth sustains fracture.
The dentist will discuss your treatment options and if you choose the re-treatment option he will reopen the tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. In some cases the post, core and restorative crown material must be taken apart and removed in order to gain access to the root canals.
Once the dentist cleans the root canals and once they are clearly examined using strong magnification, he will search for additional canals or root canal anatomy that will require special treatment.
The dentist will then fill the root canals and seal them by placing a temporary filling in the tooth. If the canals are unusually narrow then the patient will need endodontic surgery and he will be referred to an endodontist
Once the treatment is completed the patient will be required to return to the dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to restore it to its full function.
If you have a really complicated root canal treatment to be performed we will send you to an endodontist.
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
The root canal procedure will require one or more appointment that can be performed by one of the dentists at Steinway Family Dental Center.
When the tooth is numbed, the dentist will place a rubber dam (rubber protection) around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An opening is made at the top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed inside the opening one at a time. These remove the pulp, the nerve tissue and any bacteria inside here. If there is decay inside it will be removed with special dental instrument.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned of all bacteria and debris it is then sealed with a permanent filling. The patient may need additional appointments.
The dentist usually waits one week and then he fills the roots and the cavity with special dental materials taking care to seal the tooth completely. The dentist places a filling to cover the opening on the top of the tooth. This prevents the tooth from breaking and protects it restoring the tooth to its full function.
Once the root canal treatment has finished the tooth may still be sensitive for a while. Eventually this sensitivity will subside as the inflammation inside the tooth reduces and the tooth begins to heal.
The patient must practice good oral hygiene practices and regular visits will aid the life of the root canal.
What is the process during a root canal?
Step 1
Initially the dentist will administer local anesthesia in order to numb the tooth that is to be treated and the tissue in the surrounding area. If the pulp in the patients tooth is inflamed it may be very painful. If this is the case the dentist will take his time to get it numb and will not start treatment until it is actually numb.
Step 2
An access hole is drilled by the dentist through the biting surface of an affected tooth or he may go in through a front tooth. This will allow access to the pulp chamber and the actual root canals that will be treated.
Step 3
The dentist will remove the diseased and dead pulp tissue in the root canals of the tooth using an instrument that is used to clean out the root canals and pulp chamber. This will not be painful to the patient given the fact that the area will be numb and that the material being removed is already dead or decaying. The pulp is then removed along with the nerves contained in it and the patients can no longer feel pain in this tooth.
Step 4
The dentist will then disinfect with antiseptic and anti-bacterial solutions in the canals of the tooth making sure that there is no debris or decaying matter left in the root canals.
Step 5
The canals of the tooth are then shaped with tiny flexible instruments. This allows the root canals to receive fillings. The root canals are washed and sealed one last time in order to remove any debris. Afterwards they are then sealed using a special material.
Step 6
Fillings that will exactly fill into the freshly prepared root canals are selected. The dentist uses a special material called ‘gutta-percha’ that is used to fill in the canal space. This thermoplastic material is heated and then compressed into the walls of the root canals forcing them to be sealed. The dentist then uses adhesive cement and combined with the 'gutta-percha' the prepared canal space becomes filled. The sealing of the root canals is a critical part of the treatment and can prevent them from becoming re-infected with bacteria.
Step 7
The dentist will then place a temporary filling material that will seal the access hole made by the dentist that he used to treat the root canals. If the patients tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold a restoration (filling) then he will place material made of metal or a very strong plastic into one of the canals inside the tooth to help retain it.
Step 8
What happens after the root canals are treated?
The root canal filling that is used (gutta percha) is placed into the root canals and then the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling to protect it from contamination. Then a crown is placed over the tooth to seal and protect it from recontamination and future damage.
Once the procedure has been completed, an antibiotic is prescribed that will treat or prevent infection. The dentist or endodontist will give you specific instructions that you must follow carefully. Patients will experience minor discomfort after the treatment including slight soreness. This can be alleviated using medications or prescription painkillers.
Step 9
Once your treatment has been completed you will need a permanent restoration – either a filling or a crown – that will provide a complete seal to the top of your tooth. The dentist or endodontist will determine which type of restoration will be best for you. The reason why this is so important is that many studies on root canal procedures show that if the root canals are recontaminated from bacteria in the mouth then there could be the chance of a recurring infection on the patients tooth again.
What To Do If You Need Root Canal Treatment.
If you are experiencing pain and think that you may have an infected root canal then call our office for an appointment. We will fit you into our schedule and make sure that we can alleviate and stop the pain. From here we will treat the condition.
What is a root canal?
A tooth isn't a solid block of bone; it gets nourishment from the body through a special channel that carries blood supply to the tooth, bringing food and containing a nerve that makes the tooth sensitive to temperature and pressure. If the tooth is insulted by bacteria or a foreign object, it signals this by causing pain. A root canal involves cleaning out the tooth and removing the infected or damaged nerve, then sealing it with an inert material like Gutta-percha to prevent reinfection.
Why do I need a root canal?
You need a root canal if you want the tooth to stop hurting. If the nerve is infected, it's going to cause pain. To save the tooth, you need to remove the nerve.
How painful is the root canal?
It can be very painful before treatment. After treatment, the tooth may be sore for a couple of days, up to a week, but it shouldn't be too sore if you avoid touching it.
How long does the root canal take?
Including preparatory procedures like numbing, it usually takes about an hour.
What are the signs that I would need a root canal?
Signs include pain, sensitivity to hot temperatures, throbbing pain with your heartbeat, and being woken up at night by pain. Sometimes, it can be painless, and the only indication might be a cyst forming under the tooth, which a dentist can detect during a check-up.
How much does a root canal cost?
The cost can range from $1,000 to about $3,500. It's best to consult your dentist to determine if you need one, as the most expensive root canal is the one you don't need.
Can a root canal be done in one visit?
Yes, absolutely, it can be done in one visit.
What happens if I don't get a root canal?
If you need one and don't get it, the infection can spread, causing swelling and potentially serious complications, although severe outcomes are rare.
Is it better to get a root canal or a tooth extraction?
In my opinion, it's better to save the tooth because natural teeth are always better than replacements.
What should I expect after a root canal?
After the anesthetic wears off, you might experience some discomfort, which should improve within a week.
How long will it take for the pain or discomfort to disappear?
Discomfort should disappear within a week, with improvement each day.
How long does the tooth last after a root canal?
If cared for properly, the tooth can last a lifetime, though there is a chance it might fail before then.
Can the root canal fail or need to be redone?
Yes, it's possible for the tooth to get reinfected, which would require retreatment to save the tooth.
Are there alternatives to root canal treatment?
The only alternative to a root canal, if needed, is tooth extraction.
What can I eat after a root canal?
You can eat most foods, but avoid chewing with the affected tooth to prevent pain.
How do I take care of my tooth after a root canal?
Brush and floss regularly, avoid chewing on the affected tooth for a week, and see your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.