Root Canal Treatment
When it comes to dental treatments, you may have heard the term “root canal” being used. However, it’s important to understand that a root canal is not a treatment, but rather a part of a tooth. Specifically, it refers to the hollow section of a tooth that contains vital tissues such as the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells. This section is also referred to as the pulp.
Every tooth is made up of two parts – the crown, which is the visible portion above the gum line, and the roots, which are the parts below the gum that attach the tooth to the jawbone. Within both the crown and the root lies the root canal or pulp, which plays a critical role in nourishing the tooth and providing moisture to the surrounding material.
The nerves within the pulp also serve an important purpose by detecting hot and cold temperatures and communicating pain signals to the brain. So, while the term “root canal” is often associated with a specific dental procedure, it’s important to remember that it actually refers to a crucial part of our teeth that helps keep them healthy and functional.
When root canal treatment is performed?
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is typically performed when the pulp inside a tooth becomes damaged due to factors such as dental caries or trauma, leading to inflammation and infection. This procedure involves removing the damaged pulp, cleaning the root canal, and filling it with a rubber-like material to prevent further infection and restore the tooth’s function.
What are the steps of root canal treatment?
- The root canal therapy is generally completed in three steps and can take between one to three sessions to complete. The first step involves cleaning the root canal, where the dentist creates a small access hole on the surface of the tooth and removes the diseased and dead pulp tissue with very small files while the patient is under local anesthesia.
- The second step is filling the root canal, where the dentist cleans, shapes, and decontaminates the hollow area using tiny files and irrigation solutions. Then, the tooth is filled with a rubber-like material, and an adhesive cement seals the canals completely.
- After root canal therapy, the tooth becomes dead, and the patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth as the nerve tissue has been removed, and the infection has been eliminated. However, the tooth is now more fragile and must receive nourishment from the ligament that attaches the tooth to the bone. To provide additional protection, a crown or filling is added to the tooth.
Until the crown or filling is complete, the patient should avoid chewing or biting on the tooth. Once the crown or filling is done, the person can use the tooth as before. Although treatment often takes only one appointment, it may take one or two additional appointments if there are curved canals, multi-canals, or large infections. Overall, root canal treatment is a common and effective way to preserve damaged teeth and maintain good oral health.
What are the Benefits of a Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment offers a range of benefits that make it a popular choice among both patients and endodontists.
- Prevents Tooth Loss: When faced with a decayed or cavity-ridden tooth, some patients opt for tooth extraction. However, this can lead to gaps between teeth, causing potential problems. Root canal treatment preserves the natural arrangement of teeth, preventing tooth loss.
- Prevents Infection of Neighboring Teeth: Pulp infection is a leading cause of decay in tooth cavities. The infected pulp harbors bacteria that can easily spread to adjacent teeth if left untreated. Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp, preventing the growth and spread of bacteria.
- Boosts Aesthetics of Teeth: Root canal treatment involves removing the infected pulp, cleaning the affected area, and filling the cavity with a polymer material or fitting the tooth with a crown. Crowns help restore the functionality and visual appeal of teeth.
- Prevents Jawbone Degeneration: Unlike tooth extraction, root canal treatment leaves the infected tooth intact, preventing the jawbone from degenerating over time due to bacteria exposure and other factors.
- Boosts Oral and Overall Health: Root canal treatment helps maintain good oral health and prevents extreme procedures such as tooth extraction. It can also prevent conditions associated with poor oral health, such as heart disease, respiratory infections, diabetes, and gastrointestinal infections.
- Virtually Painless: Unlike dental procedures such as root extraction, root canal treatment is a comfortable and virtually painless procedure. Endodontists use recommended equipment to remove infected pulp, clean and disinfect the area, all through a painless process.
Who needs root canal treatments?
Individuals who have a deep cavity, cracked tooth, loose filling, or have experienced trauma that has caused damage to the pulp of the tooth may need root canal treatment. Additionally, those who have experienced sensitivity to temperature or pain while chewing, or have a continuous, throbbing pain in the affected tooth, may also require root canal therapy. If left untreated, the infection can spread and cause the tooth to become loose, leading to the need for extraction. However, some patients may choose extraction if the tooth cannot be restored due to large decay, trauma, or gum disease. A dentist can determine if a patient needs a root canal after a thorough examination and x-rays.
periodontal, or gum disease.
Why choose shanti dental for Root canal Treatment?
A root canal is an essential procedure that addresses cavities and tooth decay. It is virtually painless and prevents the loss of teeth. Other benefits of root canals include boosting oral and overall health, prevention of jawbone degeneration, prevention of infection to adjacent teeth, and boosting the visual appeal of teeth. At shanti dentals offers a full array of dental services to help you and your family maintain healthy teeth and are a trusted and reliable dentist in shanti dentals.
See Your Dentist Regularly
Keep these tips in mind and enjoy a healthy mouth and teeth during winter. If you have to face Any kind of Dental Problem Call Us: +91 93-1001-2929 & Dr. Rajesh Bansal provides quality dental care at an affordable price to patients in Rohini.
