SHARES
Dan has been dreading to go to the dental clinic although he has been suffering from toothache. One day however, the pain became so intense that it kept him up awake all night. He had no choice but to see the dentist to deal with the toothache. It turns out that Dan’s tooth was badly decayed. His dentist advised Dan to have either an extraction or a root canal treatment to save the tooth. Otherwise for Dan, losing the tooth will mean the unpleasant option of choosing between an implant, getting a dental bridge or wearing a denture instead.
Fast facts about root canal treatment!
- Root canal treatment is a dental treatment carried out to repair and save a tooth due to decay or infection.
- During the procedure, the nerve and bacteria inside the pulp (inner part of the tooth) are cleaned and removed.
- Root canal treatment can relieve pain without the need to extract the tooth.
- Root canal treatment is also known as endodontic therapy.
- As the nerve in the tooth is removed, the tooth will not respond to any sensation of heat or cold.
- Root canal treated teeth are usually more brittle and thus may fracture more easily.
Completed root canal treatment shown by blue arrows
Signs you may need a root canal treatment
Endodontic therapy is necessary when the pulp composing of blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The tooth is either dying or dead when there is no longer blood flow to it. There are several causes to the inflammation or infection such as deep decay, large fillings, crack or chipped tooth. Besides that, an injury to a tooth such as a knock or traumatic accident may cause pulp damage even if there are no visible chips or cracks.
If the pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, the infection can spread leading to more problems involving additional teeth, affecting your gums and jawbone. The dying or dead tooth will cause extreme pain or lead to an abscess. In certain situations, it can become severe enough to have the tooth removed.
Common symptoms indicating that a root canal treatment is necessary:
- Severe pain while biting or chewing
- Lingering sensitivity or pain to heat or cold
- Deep decay or deep fillings
- Chipped or cracked tooth
- Pimple on gum near to the tooth
Step-by-step root canal treatment procedure
Root canal therapy is usually carried out in three stages and takes approximately one to three sessions to complete.
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Initiating treatment and cleaning the root canal
Image source
Your dentist will first numb the tooth by administering local anaesthesia. After numbing the tooth, he might place a dental dam which is a small sheet of rubber that isolates the tooth to ensure a clean and dry area during the procedure.
Your dentist will then use small instruments to make a small access hole on the surface of the tooth. Next, he clears and removes the damaged and diseased pulp from the inside of the tooth with small files. He will also shape the inner chamber of the tooth and irrigate the chamber with antimicrobial solution to disinfect the root canal system. This helps to kill any remaining bacteria and reduce the risk of further infection.
2. Filling the root canal
Image source
After cleaning and decontaminating the hollow root canal, the dentist will fill the root of the tooth with a rubber-like material called gutta percha. After the root canal treatment, you will no longer feel any pain as the nerve tissue has been removed. However, some people may experience some post treatment sensitivity which will usually go away in a few days or weeks.
3. Restoring the tooth with a filling or a crown
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Root canal treatment may render a tooth more fragile than before. Thus, depending on the amount of tooth structure left, a crown or a similar type of filling may be recommended to offer protection to the tooth. Until a permanent filling or crown is place, it is best to minimise the chewing on the tooth.
Conclusion
Root canal treatments have been carried out for decades with more than a 95% success rate. Although the pain is relieved through the treatment, it is still important to take good care of your teeth and gums. Regular dental visits are necessary for the dentist to follow-up and make sure that there is no sign of reinfection. With proper care, a root canal treated tooth can stay healthy for a lifetime.
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by Soh May Leng
Born and raised in Malaysia, May Leng obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago, New Zealand. She has joined the GetDoc team to relay valuable health information to the public. Staying active plays a big part in her daily life especially through outdoor sports such as running and swimming. She also enjoys travelling and has a passion for photography. View all articles by Soh May Leng.
