Root canal treatment

Why root canal treatment?
If the nerve of the tooth rots or decays there is no other way to save the tooth other than endodontic treatment, which is more popular as root canal treatment. It’s a job done only by an endodontist who treats the root canal and routs the phobia in you to take the treatment.

When do you know you need to visit an endodontist?
When your tooth/teeth sensitivity to cold and hot foods stays for relatively longer periods of time
When there is a visible swelling of gum/s of the sensitive tooth
When there is a hurting sensation to slight touch or simple biting of tooth/teeth
When at times there is no pain yet the tooth would look discolored

How would an endodontist determine that a root canal treatment is needed?
While root canal treatment is done is salvage an otherwise compromised which might require an extraction, it is also essential to do some diagnostic tests to come to a conclusion that you need it. Because root canal treatment involves good money, tests are essential to determine necessity of the treatment. These tests aim to replicate symptoms in case an x-ray doesn’t reveal one. Electric pulp test and it tests the nerve strength, the hot and cold test, as well as periodontal probe and periodontal percussion etc are done. After these tests, the tooth/teeth the require root canal treatment if any is identified and

Process of root canal treatment
The tooth will be first anesthetized, and then an opening is made through pulp area through the tooth crown. The root canal lengths will then be determined and the deceased and infected pulp is then slowly scooped out. Later, the canals cleansed. Additionally, they will be broadened as well as shaped using endodontic files. They will be then filled and sealed. A metal column will be used to give structural support as well as to retain the restorative materials added. The tooth will be sealed then using the filling. Then a porcelain crown (or any other material) will be added for additional protection. The crown or filling needs replacement periodically though.

Is root canal treatment painful?
It’s a myth that root canal treatment is painful but with modern dentistry root canal treatment doesn’t hurt at all, especially when appropriate anesthetic is administered. However, it will be painful even if the alveolar bone is involved and started to decay. In such circumstances the first visit might and treatment might be painful because the anesthetics fail to work if bone is involved. The subsequent visits are almost painless.

So said, root canal treatment is not a horrible situation as is conceived by people, and should you visit a dentist with some phobia your body produces biocompounds due to your stress that will not allow medicines such as pain killers and anesthetics to function. Therefore, visit an endodontist with a calm frame of mind. After all, he is saving your tooth from extraction. It should make you smile not phobic.