People often get chills down their spine upon hearing the term “root canal”, as they probably relate it to the tales of pain narrated by a friend or family member. Added to this are the discrediting depictions of the procedure in some sitcoms and movies. In fact, a root canal treatment eliminates the pain caused by infection and saves the tooth from potential implications.
Let us look into the details of the root canal procedure to discover if such a fear is necessary and how it benefits your oral health.
What is a Root Canal?
Despite the popular misconceptions that linger in your mind, you may be keen to find out what is root canal. Root canal, also called endodontic therapy, is a modern-day dental procedure that saves a badly decayed or damaged tooth that would otherwise be removed or lost. It removes the damaged, dead or infected tooth pulp, the soft tissue at the tooth centre consisting of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues.
The procedure also removes the infection-causing bacteria and seals off the tooth centre. A timely intervention prevents the accumulation of pus at the root tip due to the infected or dead tooth pulp. This avoids the formation of painful abscesses that can potentially damage the jawbone that surrounds the tooth.
When is a Root Canal Needed?
When you have a tooth problem, it is natural to wonder whether or not you need a root canal. It is usually recommended when the tooth pulp and nerves are damaged or exposed to bacteria, resulting in pulp inflammation or infection. The American Association of Endodontists lists various factors responsible for such damage to the tooth pulp, including:
Fractured or cracked tooth
Deep decay
Recent or past tooth injury, such as a strong knock on the tooth
Tissue damage from a repeated dental procedure on the same tooth
How do you know if your tooth requires immediate treatment? The common symptoms of the need for a root canal include:
Tooth pain: The severity of the toothache may vary across the day and might worsen when you chew or bite down on the tooth
Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold foods and liquids
Swollen or tender gums near the affected tooth
Pimples on the gums near the infected tooth
In some people, prolonged and untreated infection of the tooth pulp may indicate tooth discolouration and the pus from the infected pulp can affect the supporting jawbone, making the tooth loose.
What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment aims to remove damaged tooth pulp, curb infection, relieve pain, and prevent further complications. It intends to preserve the natural tooth rather than remove it. The tooth pulp consists of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues that reach the jawbone through tooth canals. It supplies blood to the tooth, helping feel sensations such as temperature.
During the treatment, the infected tooth pulp, including blood vessel tissues, the tooth nerve, and decayed parts of the tooth, are removed. The tooth canals are cleaned, often using a disinfecting solution. Medicines may be placed to eliminate germs and prevent further infection. The tooth root is later filled with a permanent sealing material. In most cases, a permanent crown is placed atop the tooth to protect it and let it function normally thereafter.
How is a Root Canal Performed?
Upon consultation, your dentist will first diagnose the cause of your tooth problem by properly examining the symptoms. This may sometimes require the help of a dental specialist or endodontist. Once a need for root canal therapy is determined, it may be performed in several steps spanning multiple office visits depending on your unique oral conditions and situation.
The advancements in anaesthesia and surgical techniques have greatly minimised the discomforts experienced in a root canal procedure. The various steps involved in the treatment are:
Examination: The dentist may examine the tooth and capture its medical image using X-rays.
Accessing the tooth roots: The tooth is then numbed by administering a local anaesthetic. To access the pulp chamber, an opening is made in the crown of the tooth (for a molar or pre-molar) or through the back of a front tooth.
Removing the Infected/Inflamed Tissue: The unhealthy pulp tissues and infection are removed from the pulp chamber and tooth canals using small instruments called files. The canals are irrigated with a disinfecting solution to clear away debris and then shaped for the filling material.
Filling the Canals: The canals are then filled with a permanent material, typically gutta-percha, to keep them infection-free.
Rebuilding the Tooth: A temporary filling material is placed on top of the gutta-percha to seal the opening until the tooth receives a restoration or a crown. A dental crown, also called a cap, resembles a natural tooth and is placed over the tooth.
Extra Support: If the tooth is badly broken down or there is insufficient tooth structure to keep the restoration in place, a post may be placed inside before fitting the dental crown.
The Crowning Touch: The properly fitted dental crown is cemented into place, imparting the tooth its shape and helping it function like other teeth.
What Are The Potential Benefits of Root Canals?
The root canal procedure aims to curb the damage and infection in the tooth and preserve it rather than have it removed. The potential benefits of root canal include:
Preserving the natural tooth: Most dentists agree that retaining a natural tooth is ideal rather than extracting it and replacing it with a bridge or dental implant. Root canal treatment preserves the tooth’s appearance and function with the help of a dental crown.
Eliminating infection and pain: Tooth pulp infection causes pain, and left untreated, it can spread to other teeth, damage the jawbone, and cause loose teeth. A root canal removes the infected pulp and stops the infection from spreading.
Virtually painless: With anaesthesia and advanced techniques, the discomfort experienced in root canal procedure and its recovery period is less than that of tooth extraction.
Cost-effectiveness and efficiency: Root canals are comparatively more efficient and cost-effective than tooth extraction, which may require multiple follow-up visits for a bridge, implant or denture.
What are the Risks or Complications of Root Canals?
People may wrongly presume severe pain is one of the possible complications of the procedure. In fact, what people believe to be root canal pain is caused by tooth pulp infection, while the procedure aims to heal it. Your dentist may prescribe medication to ease any possible discomfort, as the tooth and surrounding area may be sore for some days before returning to normal.
Though a root canal intends to save your tooth, it may sometimes prove unsuccessful. The various risk factors that contribute to this include:
Insufficient cleaning of the tooth canals
Breakdown of the inner sealant or the crown
Traces of the infected material left behind or ineffective antibiotics cause reinfection or abscess at the root of a formerly treated tooth and affect other teeth.
Sometimes, endodontic therapy may not be the ideal workaround if the affected tooth is badly damaged or the enamel is too feeble to withstand the procedure. Such factors can eventually lead to tooth loss. If you are uncertain about a root canal, you may opt for tooth extraction instead. It often involves replacing the extracted tooth with a bridge, implant or partial denture.
What Happens After a Root Canal Treatment?
Root canals are a restorative procedure that benefits the vast majority of people. The treated or restored tooth or teeth can last long with proper oral care. As our teeth are always susceptible to tooth decay and infection, it is ideal to be consistent with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups. The following tips can be helpful:
For the first few days after treatment, eating soft foods is ideal.
Avoid chewing on the treated tooth unless you get the permanent filling and crown.
Quit smoking to help your tooth heal and prevent various risks to your oral health.
Brush twice daily using a proprietary fluoride toothpaste.
Floss once daily to clean between the teeth.
Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to keep germs at bay.
Make regular appointments with your dentist to avoid potential dental problems.
Root canal treatment offers an effective solution to preserve and restore a damaged or infected tooth. It eliminates tooth pulp infection and relieves pain with a higher success rate. While some anxieties linger around the procedure, advancements in dental techniques have minimised discomfort. With proper dental care, the treated tooth can function normally and last a lifetime, saving you from the complications and potential costs of tooth replacement procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does a root canal take?
Based on the tooth’s condition, root canal surgery may be completed in one sitting or two or three sessions, each spanning 30 to 90 minutes. The first sitting removes the infected pulp and fills it with a temporary antibiotic material. The next session disinfects the root canal system, permanently seals the tooth root and places the crown.
2. Do root canals hurt?
What people assume to be root canal pain is actually the result of the underlying tooth pulp infection. Local anaesthesia and advanced techniques make the procedure virtually pain-free and easy, and it has a higher success rate for most people.
3. What happens if I delay root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment saves a damaged or infected tooth from further complications due to pulp infection. Delaying the treatment lets the infection create painful abscesses and spread to the jawbone, eventually leading to tooth loss and affecting other teeth.
4. Is a root canal cheaper than an extraction?
Root canal treatment cost varies depending on the complexity of the tooth’s condition. Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration costs are lesser than irreversible tooth extraction and replacement. Tooth extraction often involves replacing the extracted tooth with a partial denture, bridge, or implant.
