Root Canal is a method in dentistry also known as “paying off the nerve". In the Root Canal processm the vascular nerve blocks inside the tooth causing enormous pain is extracted to avoid further sufering of a patient. With specialised equipment, teeth and gum area are cleaned achieving infection-free operation. Each patient's tooth has a lot of blood vessels that expand forming a network of sensitive nerves.
Root Canal Treatment, also called RCT in endodontics terms, is needed when the blood vessel or nerve supply of the tooth is badly damaged caused by decay or some injury. It is most often needed in teeth which have deep fillings, or in teeth which have deep dental decay. Root canal treatment is needed then the tooth pulp has infections or inflammations. Pulp infections may eventually spread through the root canal system of the tooth eventually leading to an abscess. If Root Canal Treatment (RCT) is not performed timely, the pulp infection will then spread around and the infected tooth may then be extracted.
Some common reasons for pulp damage requiring root canal treatment are: having a cavity that has been left untreated for years and has spread badly to the nerve, second is a big amage to the nerve from a knock, large fillings, a cracked or borken tooth, or from any other dental procedures done.
1. Bleeding, soreness and sometimes infection: After a root canal treatment, the patient may experience some pain, swelling and mild discomfort for few days, which may be easily treated with home pain medication. The patient may also experience an infection following treatment, which would be treated with antibiotics.
2. Unwated reaction to local anesthetics: Local anesthetics may cause your heart beat rate to increase rapidly and your hands will feel shaky.
3. Stiffness or soreness of jaw joint: Holding your mouth open during treatment and dental shot may leave your jaw feeling stiff and sore for a short while and may make it hard to open your mouth wide for several days afterwards. Treatment may leave the corners of your mouth red or cracked for several days.
4. Numbness: With any dental procedure that requires anaesthetic (numbing), there are chances of lingering numbness in root canal treatments. This numbness can last for an extended period of time (around one to four months). Problems with numbness are most likely occur in the lower jaw and can leave your lips or tongue numb for a period of time. It happens due to the damage of the nerve during the shot. This condition is technically called parenthesis and is transient and temporary, because it will eventually go away and the numb sensation will not be present. In addition, a severe tooth inflammation and may lead to numbness that is not a lasting condition, but fades away a few weeks after the infection or swelling clears up. This experience usually occurs in the lower jaw.
The infected pulp is extracted and any infection in it is then drained. The root canals are then cleaned, sanitised and shaped until finally ready for the permanent root canal filling. Once the dentist or RCT specialist is confident that the infection is all gone, the root canal filling (usually a rubberry material) is compressed into the canals to seal them permanently. A normal filling is required on top of the root filling to restore and seal the tooth. Sometimes the treatment will involve 2 or more dentist appointments of approximately 2 hours.An anaesthetic is used in the process to minimise the pain. The whole root canal treatment procedure should feel little different to that of having a normal filling although the appointment will usually be longer. There will usually be some pain or discomfort for 3-4 days following the treatment.
Root canal treatment (RCT) is successful 80 per cent of the time, although it largely depends on the difficulty of the individual tooth. If the infection recurs, the treatment can be repeated as desired. If an infected tooth has a particularly difficult shape, or a unwanted complication, it is possible to refer to a specialist who can use advanced techniques and instruments to treat your tooth. Sometimes tooth extraction is the only option when the treatment fails.
Root filled tooth are usually weaker and much more brittle than a live tooth. In this light, it is often recommended to restore the root-filled tooth with a crown or an onlay to reinforce the affected tooth. Generally, the patient must wait a few months after treatment to make sure that the root canal treatment is all good before going forward to assessing whether crowning is still advisable or not.
Please see dental fees for cost of root canal treatment. Each state has its own rates for root canal treatment. Please review the appropriate dental cost or contact a local dentist for more information.
Please see our dentists and dental clinics list to find a dentist providing root canal consultation and treatment services. For best root canal treatment please make sure you have all the information about Root Canal Treatment.
Source: Root Canal (http://www.studental.co.uk/downloads/root-canal-treatment.pdf)
Why do I need root canal treatment?
What causes pulp nerve damage?
What are the symptoms of pulp nerve damage?
What happens if the pulp gets injured?
How long will the restored tooth last?
In the past you would probably lose a tooth if the tooth had a diseased or injured nerve. Today you may save that tooth with a special dental procedure called root canal therapy. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth. It runs like a thread down through the root. The pulp tissue dies when the pulp is diseased or injured. If you don't remove this pulp tissue, your tooth will get infected and you could lose it. The root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it after the dentist removes the pulp. Then our participating dentists place a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger.
A root canal is usually a simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits to a dentist. Most patients report that having root canal treatment today is as unremarkable as getting a filling. The best news is that it can save your tooth and your smile!
Our participating dentists use a root canal procedure to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. The soft tissue around the tooth contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment has given our participating dentists a safe way of saving teeth.
The simple answer is because your tooth will not heal by itself. The infection will spread without treatment. The bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate and the tooth may fall out. Pain usually worsens until you are forced to seek emergency dental attention. The only alternative is usually extraction of the tooth which can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly resulting in a bad bite. Though an extraction is cheaper, the space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can be more expensive than root canal treatment. If you have the choice, it's always best to keep your original teeth.
There are two common causes of pulp nerve damage. Physical irritation is generally brought on by aggressive tooth decay reaching down to the nerve or through deep fillings which allows harmful bacteria to reach the nerve resulting in infection and decay. Receiving a blow to a tooth can also cause damage to sensitive nerve tissue within the tooth.
Pulp can die when it becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture as it allows bacteria to seep in. Pulp can also die because of injury due to trauma. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow and cellular activity and pressure cannot be relieved from inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is commonly felt when biting down, chewing on it and applying hot or cold foods and drinks.
There are several common symptoms of pulp nerve damage. Each individual may experience the symptoms differently. These symptoms may include:
The symptoms of pulp nerve damage may resemble other oral health conditions. You should consult a participating dentist for a diagnosis.
Underneath your tooth's outer enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue called the pulp which carries the tooth's nerves, veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Root canals are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more than four root canals.
The pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. It lies within the tooth and extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.
An endodontist is a dentist with special training in diagnosing and treating problems associated with the inside of the tooth. They do only endodontic procedures in their practices because they are specialists. They perform routine as well as difficult and very complex endodontic procedures including re-treatment of previous root canals that have not healed completely and endodontic surgery. Endodontists are also experienced at finding the cause of oral and facial pain that has been difficult to diagnose.
The pulp dies when it is diseased or injured and can't repair itself. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. Both of these problems can let bacteria enter the pulp. Germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. Pus builds up at the root tip in the jawbone when not treated and forms a "pus-pocket" called an abscess. An abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth.
Treatment often involves from one to three visits to our participating dentists. A dentist or endodontist will remove the diseased pulp during the treatment. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed.
Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:
If root canal therapy is suggested by a dentist then is important to have a tooth treated as soon as possible. An infection that is allowed to continue is likely to result in the formation of an abscess at the root of the tooth. This will lead to destruction of the underlying bone tissue and may make it impossible to save the tooth. The infection can also spread to adjacent teeth and could result in blood poisoning, fever, swelling in the face and neck and a general ill feeling.
More than 95 percent of root canal treatments are successful. Sometimes a case needs to be redone due to diseased canal offshoots that went undetected or the fracturing of a canal filing instrument used. This rarely occurs. A root canal therapy that has not been completed correctly is marked by a return of pain.
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime assuming you continue to care for your teeth and gums. Regular checkups will be necessary. Your tooth will remain healthy as long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it.
Natural tissue inflammation may cause discomfort for a few days. This can be controlled by an over-the-counter analgesic. A follow-up exam will be to monitor tissue healing. From this point on, brush and floss regularly, avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth, and see your dentist regularly.
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