What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is the process of removing the infection from the deeper portions of the tooth. If a dental cavity is left untreated, there will be long standing tooth decay where the infection reaches the deeper portions of the tooth (pulp), causing severe pain. This infection can spread deep into the jaw bones and cause severe facial deformities if not treated in time.
With the first incidence of pain root canal treatment will give a better result to retain the teeth for a longer period of time and prevent the infection from spreading further
Let’s learn about the structure of the tooth, so that we can comprehend root canal therapy better.
Tooth consists of three layers
- Enamel (hardest tissue)
- Dentine (less harder than enamel)
- Pulp (innermost layer, contains nerves and blood vessels)
If the decay just affects the first two layers of the tooth, filling or restorations can treat it.
An RCT or Endodontic treatment is required in the event that the tooth decay extends to the third layer and results in pulp inflammation or infection.
Who needs Root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is done to relieve the pain.
Tooth ache or pain occurs when there is a tooth infection brought on by decay, trauma and gum diseases. This ranges from mild to severe. As you ignore it, it gets worse.
Root canal treatment procedure:
- Step 1: To determine the extent of inflammation and tooth decay, we may perform one or two x-rays.
- Step 2: The Endodontist anaesthetizes the tooth of interest and the surrounding area.
- Step 3: The root canals and pulp chamber are cleaned using instruments. Cleaning and disinfecting the canals involves using antibacterial and antiseptic solutions. This gets rid of the bacteria and treats the canal infection.
- Step 4: Next, the pulp canals are shaped using instruments so that they will be ready to receive the filling material.
- Step 5: The pulp canals are filled using a rubber- like material called gutta-percha which is compressed against the canal walls, so it fits snuggly and avoids the entry of microorganisms.
- Step 6: The treated tooth is enclosed with a crown, which provides additional strength and stability. The permanent crown is made to look exactly like the natural teeth.
Consequences of skipping RCT:
- The infection may spread into gums and jaw bone and lead to pus filled abscess formation.
- Severe health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke, may also result from this.
- If the pain you're experiencing disappears, it doesn't signify that your teeth have healed over time; instead, it means that the infection has multiplied and the nerves inside your teeth have all died.
Post treatment protocol:
- After the procedure, you will experience some pain and discomfort. So your dentist will recommend medication.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, hot drinks, drinking with straws. These promote inflammation.
- Brush and floss normally, it’s important to keep the area clean.
- If you experience any complications, consult your dentist.