Root Canals
Root canal is also called as endodontic therapy. This is a procedure which is performed to remove the infected and decaying pulp of the tooth. Tooth pulp is the innermost part of it which contains all the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues. When the tooth decay is deep it reaches its pulp and decay starts which is extremely painful. If not treated then it can spread to surrounding tissues and teeth. It is possible to have tooth crown intact and decaying tooth from the inside. This type of tooth infection cannot be seen from outside because the tooth might look normal from the inside, but it will be facing extreme decay and infection on the inside. In such case, your dentist will prescribe you to go for root canals. But first let us understand what root canal is exactly, how it develops, what are the symptoms, how can you avoid it and most importantly how root canals will be done.
Understanding the Root Canals
It is basically a dental procedure which is performed to cleanse and disinfect the inside of your tooth and is then filled with filling material and sealed on the outside. The procedure is painless because local anesthesia is performed so that you do not feel the pain. Millions of teeth are treated and saved from further infection with the help of root canals procedure. Due to this, patients also get saved from tooth extraction which can be very painful as well as require most care afterwards.
Your teeth are covered with an enamel layer which is hard and is non-living. Enamel is considered as the strongest part of human body, even stronger than the bones. Beneath the enamel layer, is dentin and below dentin is the soft tissue layer called pulp. This pulp has the blood vessels, nerve endings and the connective tissues which provide nourishment to the tooth and help it grow. Usually when your tooth is fully grown, even if the pulp is removed at this stage, it does not affect the growth of tooth, because it gets its nourishment from the surrounding tissues. So, when the pulp is beginning to be infected and starts decaying, it is imminent to remove it without risking the health of your tooth.
Before going for root canals, it is important to first understand whether you need it or not. Because many people are hesitant to go for it, they think it is a painful process. But let us tell you that our experts at Dr. Greenwald & Dr. Barnouti Dental help you understand the procedure first and then perform it with pure accuracy while you are under local anesthesia. The procedure is very much like regular filling and you will be smiling and biting soon with the usual charm. During the procedure, the pulp is removed which is infected and decaying, then the gap is filled and then sealed from the outside. Your tooth will look normal like it was before. This will also not affect the health of your tooth afterwards, rather removing the infected part will improve your oral health.
If you think you need root canals treatment, you have to make sure you have the right symptoms. Give a visit to Dr. Greenwald & Dr. Barnouti Dental if you are living in Richmond Hill, you can also book an early appoint via their email or phone call. Following are the symptoms specifically that lead to this treatment:
- You are feeling severe pain whole eating
- Your gums have pimples on them and appear red
- The root which is infected will appear cracked or chipped
- Sensitivity to cold and heat, even after the sensitivity treatment it still does not goes away
- Your gums appear swollen and has become tender and dark in color
The pain you feel in this infection, is different from other tooth pain. You might be experiencing pain that is deep into the roots and spreads to other teeth, jaw and even your face. The pimples on your gums might contain pus in them, and due to this the bones supporting your tooth become soft which in turn result in loose tooth.
Why Root Canal?
The most sensitive and soft part of a tooth is its pulp that contains blood vessels, etc. when it is infected, the bacteria multiply in the area and spread the infection. The infection can spread to the roots and forms an abscess that is filled with pus. This infection will cause swelling that will move from the teeth to the face and neck area.at this tip of the root, bone will be infected as well and it will become soft. When let untreated, the infection will most likely spread to surrounding teeth and soft tissues, hence infecting them as well.
So, it is better to identify the problem and immediately go to the dentists for root canals treatment so that your teeth can be saved. As the procedure is done to only remove the infected part, it will look normal afterwards. You will return back to your normal lifestyle, eat without a worry and smile with a confidence.
The first step in root canals procedure is to get the clear picture of your tooth. An x-rays report will give you a clear picture of how much damage the infection has caused to your tooth. After the x-rays are done, your dentist will place a sheet of rubber around the tooth to keep the area dry. In the next step, access is acquired to the pulp of tooth, it is then removed and the area is cleaned thoroughly to remove debris as well. This will be done in a single appointment. The filling and sealing your tooth can be done in next appointment or in many cases, on the same day. Filling material is used to fill in the gap created by the removal o pulp and the infection. It is then sealed with a tooth crown that will prevent it from breaking and make it fully functional.
After the root canals procedure, the area will feel numb for few hours due to the local anesthesia your dentist used. You can engage in your normal daily activities. Once the numbness is gone, you might feel a little sensitivity which can be treated by over-the-counter medication for pain relief, your dentist might prescribe it. Eating the soft food for first few days will be better after the root canals treatment to be able to get used to the new filling. Brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing them is very important. The use of anti-bacterial mouthwash is also important as it will prevent any more bacterial infection in your mouth.