How Exactly Is a Root Canal Done? How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?
A beautiful smile is all that you need to boost your confidence and open new avenues in the personal and professional font. With time the teeth lose their natural shine and vitality. The teeth tend to be discolored or deteriorate in structural integrity and functionality.
Modern dentistry has evolved dramatically to address such issues. With restorative dentistry and root canal treatment, you can get rid of decays and cavities effectively.
What is root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is designed in such a way as to eliminate the oral bacteria from the infected pulp of the teeth and to prevent further infection of the teeth. The endodontist removes the infected pulp, and the inside of the teeth is cleaned thoroughly to nullify further chances of infection.
A root canal treatment would be necessary to repair and save a badly decayed tooth from being lost. The teeth are embedded in the gums that house numerous fine capillaries and nerves.
Periodontal infections affect the underlying blood vessels, and the pulp can become inflamed, infected, and decayed. Repeated dental procedures or a large filling can affect and chip the teeth more. Root canal treatment is an effective way to address such issues.
Symptoms That Root Canal Treatment is Necessary
The following are the signs that you would need a root canal treatment:
- Sharp, persistent pain while chewing or biting food
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- Painful and swollen gums
- Deep decayed and darkened gums
- Teeth sensitivity that lingers
- Pimples on the gums
- Persistent pain and bleeding of the gums
How Does a Root Canal Treatment Work?
Generally, the root canal treatment is performed by an endodontist. “Endo” is a Greek word meaning inside, and “odont” signifies tooth in Greek. Endodontists are specialized in treating the inside of your teeth. Underneath the white enamel of the teeth, there is a hard layer called dentin and a soft layer called the pulp.
The pulp houses the fine blood capillaries, the nerves, and the connective tissues that form the cushion of the hard tissues during development. The pulp plays a pivotal role in the development and growth of the teeth.
The root canal treatment starts with the endodontist taking x-ray and 3D images of your oral cavity to understand the dental structure and to determine signs of infection or complications. Root canal treatment is performed under sedation dentistry or local anesthesia to numb the pain and discomfort. The dentist places a rubber dam to keep the site of treatment dry from saliva.
The next step is to drill into the affected tooth and remove the debris. The decayed part of the tooth, the pulp, bacterial residue, and the decayed nerve tissues are removed. The site is cleaned and disinfected thoroughly using a series of root canal files.
They are placed along the full length of the teeth to scrape and scrub the affected teeth. This step is completed with the spraying of sodium hypochlorite to prevent the recurrence of infections.
Once the teeth are cleaned thoroughly, they are sealed with dental sealants or dental fillings. Some root canal specialist near you might wait for a week before sealing the teeth to ensure there is no recurrence of infection. The site of root canal treatment is finally sealed with a sealer paste and a rubber compound.
As they have to support a large dental filling due to extensive decay. A dental crown is like a protective dental cap placed on the affected teeth to protect them from further damage.
Is Root Canal Effective?
Root canal treatment is highly successful, and the success rate is as high as 95 percent. Most of the teeth fixed with root canal treatment can last a lifetime with proper care. Regular brushing and flossing can maintain good oral health. You can also wear a mouthguard during sports activities.
Visiting the dentist at regular intervals is a must to maintain good oral health. You may book an appointment with Thumbs Up Dental at North Branch. With a reputation for excellence, we are committed to providing better oral care. We offer evening appointments so that our patients don’t have to disrupt their busy schedules.