What is a Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.
Why Does Tooth Pulp Need to Be Removed?
Dental pulp contains the tooth’s nerve endings and blood vessels, extending all the way to the root. When a tooth’s nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria can cause an infection or abscessed tooth (a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth). It can also cause a swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head, or bone loss around the tip of the root and in some cases there might be drainage problems extending outward from the root. A hole can occur through the side of the tooth with drainage into the gums or through the cheek with drainage into the skin.
What Damages a Tooth’s Nerve and Pulp in the First Place?
A tooth’s nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth, and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
What Are the Signs That a Root Canal Is Needed?
Dental pain can take many forms and can seriously impact upon your quality of life. Symptoms can include toothache and sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks, sharp pain when biting down on food or even a dull aching pressure in the jaw. Facial swelling may also occur, and the infection may also spread to the gums, causing an abscess. As the infection progresses, the tooth may begin to darken in colour, taking on a grey or black appearance. In rare cases, a dental pulp infection may not present with any noticeable symptoms, and your dentist may identify it on a dental radiograph before you are even aware of it.
Can a tooth have 2 Root canals?
The number of canals varies on the tooth and its location in the mouth. Teeth have between 1-5 canals.
Can I eat after root canal treatment?
You can eat as soon as the anaesthetic wears off. Until the tooth is restored, it is important to eat soft foods.
Can root canals be redone?
If a root canal gets infected or is not adequately cleaned, it is possible to redo a root treatment.
Can antibiotics heal an infected root canal?
Antibiotics do not completely heal a root canal infection. They help to reduce the infection but ultimately the root canal must be treated.
Can you get a root canal treatment and crown in the same day?
It is not advised to get a root canal treatment and crown on the same day. The tooth needs to heal for several days before a crown or permanent filling Is placed. After your tooth has healed and the infection has cleared you can make an appointment with your own dentist to plan you permanent restoration.
Can I drive home after a root canal treatment?
Unless you have taken sedatives you can absolutely drive home after a root canal treatment with local
anaesthetic.
Does root canal treatment hurt during the procedure?
A root canal treatment should never hurt during the procedure. The Endodontist will give you adequate
anaesthetic so the area is numb and painless.
My tooth has been root canal treated and it still hurts. Why?
It is normal for teeth to be sore for a few days after root canal treatment. Some teeth, particularly ones that have been problematic for a while, may take a few months to settle. This discomfort is normally from the inflamed supporting tissues.
How long does the procedure take?
Root canals typically can be done in one visit to the Endodontist and usually do not take more than two hours. If your problem is severe, you will likely need at least two visits to the dentist to complete the procedure.
Can the treatment fail?
A tooth that has undergone endodontic therapy can occasionally fail. Root canal treatment is performed because the soft inner tissue of the tooth, called the pulp, has been damaged. As with any other part of the body, treatments can be unsuccessful sometimes for no known reasons, the hard and soft tissues surrounding the tooth may simply fail to heal.
What are the Alternatives to a Root Canal Treatment?
Without Endodontic treatment the only other alternative is to have the infected tooth removed, and replace it with an implant, a fixed bridge or a removable denture to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These alternatives not only are more expensive than a root canal procedure but require more treatment time and additional procedures to adjacent teeth and supporting tissues. None of these alternatives is anywhere near as effective as being able to actually keep the original tooth.
