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What is root canal treatment
exactly?
Root
canal treatments are used to find the cause of
the tooth's soft core and then treat the dental
pulp. Many years ago. diseased or injured pulped
teeth were removed, but today, root canal
treatment has given a dentists a safe way of
saving teeth.
What is the
dental pulp?
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.
What happens
if the pulp gets injured?
An abscessed (infected) tooth caused by tooth
decay. When the pulp is diseased or injured and
can't repair itself, it dies. The most common
cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep
cavity. Both of these problems can let germs
(bacteria) enter the pulp. Germs can cause an
infection inside the tooth. Left without
treatment, pus builds up at the root tip, in the
jawbone, forming a "pus-pocket" called an
abscess. An abscess can cause damage to the bone
around the teeth.
Why does the
pulp need to be removed?
When the infected pulp is not removed, pain
and swelling can result. Certain byproducts of
the infection can injure your jaw bones. Without
treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.
What does
treatment involve?
Treatment often involves from one to three
visits. During treatment, your general dentist
or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in
problems of the pulp) removes the diseased pulp.
The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth
are then cleaned and sealed.
Here's how your tooth is saved through
treatment:
- First, an opening is made through the
crown of the tooth.
- An opening is made through the crown of
the tooth into the pulp chamber.
- The pulp is then removed. The root
canal(s) is cleaned and shaped to a form
that can be filled.
- The pulp is removed, and the root canals
are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
- Medications may be put in the pulp
chamber and root canal(s) to help get rid of
germs and prevent infection.
- A temporary filling will be placed in
the crown opening to protect the tooth
between dental visits. Your dentist may
leave the tooth open for a few days to
drain. You might also be given medicine to
help control infection that may have spread
beyond the tooth.
- The pulp chamber and root canals are
filled and sealed.
- The temporary filling is removed and the
pulp chamber and root canal(s) are cleaned
and filled.
- In the final step, a gold or porcelain
crown is usually placed over the tooth. If
an endodontist performs the treatment, he or
she will recommend that you return to your
family dentist for this final step.
- The crown of the tooth is then restored.
How long will
the restored tooth last?
A restored tooth is able
to last a whole lifetime if a person continues
to care for their teeth and gums, but regular
checkups are still necessary. Just as long as
the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by
the tissues that are located around it, your
tooth should remain healthy.
What is endodontic treatment?
“Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for
“tooth.” Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth.
To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something
about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white
enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called
the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective
tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during
development.
The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the
roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The
pulp is important during a tooth’s growth and development. However,
once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the pulp,
because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues
surrounding it.
Who is an “endodontist?”
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. To become specialists, they complete dental school and
an additional two or more years of advanced training in endodontics,
one of the nine specialties recognized by the American Dental
Association. They perform routine as well as difficult and very
complex endodontic procedures, including retreatment of previous
root canals that have not healed completely, as well as endodontic
surgery. Endodontists are also experienced at finding the cause of
oral and facial pain that has been difficult to diagnose.
What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?
Signs to look for include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or
cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth,
and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as
nearby bone and gingival tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no
symptoms.
Why would I need an endodontic procedure?
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue
inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The
inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay,
repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the
tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even
if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or
infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an
abscess.
How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully
cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, a channel inside the
root, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to
your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the
tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration,
the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?
Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of
toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern
techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are
comfortable during the procedure.
For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel
sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the
procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or
prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions
carefully.
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your
other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is
completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that
lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.
How much will the procedure cost?
The cost varies depending on how complex the problem is and which
tooth is affected. Molars are more difficult to treat, the fee is
usually more. Most dental insurance policies provide some coverage
for endodontic treatment.
Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural
tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth
extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with a bridge or
implant to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from
shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic
treatment and appropriate restoration. With root canal treatment you
save your natural teeth and money.
Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment
after endodontic treatment?
You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have
had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible
to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration
as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good oral
hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and
cleanings.
Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural
teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic
treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the
tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after
successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic
procedure can save the tooth.
What causes an endodontically treated tooth to need additional
treatment?
New trauma, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can
cause new infection in your tooth. In some cases, the endodontist
may discover additional very narrow or curved canals that could not
be treated during the initial procedure.
Can all teeth be treated endodontically?
Most teeth should be treated. But there are times when a tooth
can not be saved because the root canals aren't accessible or if the
root is severely fractured or if the tooth doesn't have adequate
bone support or if the tooth can not be restored. In any case,
advances in endodontics make it possible to save teeth that just a
few years ago would have been lost. In rare cases, when endodontic
treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery could be able to save
the tooth.
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