What is root canal treatment (rct)?
Contents
- What is root canal treatment (rct)?
- When is the root canal treatment recommended?
- What are the symptoms one experiences?
- Advantages of getting root canal done:
- How is the root canal treatment done?
- What is the cost of having root canal treatment done?
- Which dental clinics are recommended and where are they located?
- Is there any alternative treatment to root canal treatment?
- Blogs on root canal treatment
- Importance of tooth scaling and cleaning
- Which is better tooth extraction or root canal
- Why do your teeth become cavity-prone?
- Can dry mouth invite more problems?
- Sensitive mouth: everything you need to know about teeth sensitivity
- Prevent yellow teeth with Less brushing pressure on teeth
- Infographics on root canal treatment
- Videos on root canal treatment
- FAQs on rct
- More dental treatments…
- Root Canal Treatment
- Bridges & crowns
- Teeth whitening
- Dentures
- Dental Implants
- Clear aligners
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Teeth scaling and polishing
- Dental filling
- Smile Makeover
- Gum diseases
- Preventive Dentistry in Adults
Root canal treatment is an endodontic procedure useful in the removal of the infected pulp from the tooth. The term “root canal” is used to describe the pulp cavity in the middle of the tooth. This cavity is lined by the nerves of the tooth. When these nerves or the pulp get infected by bacteria, it leads to inflammation of the pulp or abscess formation, and the treatment to cure this infection is known as root canal treatment. The treatment involves the removal of the pulp.
After disinfecting the entire cavity, dentists fill and seal it with restorative materials, recommending a crown for better protection of the root canal-treated tooth.
When is the root canal treatment recommended?
These are the common conditions when a root canal is the only treatment option.
- Deeply decayed teeth
- A cracked or broken tooth
- Gum diseases
- Secondary caries
- Damage caused by trauma
What are the symptoms one experiences?
The symptoms vary from person to person. Some may experience no or mild symptoms, while others have severe symptoms.
Following are the symptoms that one can feel.
- Mild to severe toothache. If left untreated for an extended period of time, this toothache worsens.
- Pain from biting and chewing food
- Sensitivity when something cold or hot is consumed
- Swelling in the gums
- Tenderness in the gums
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Pus around the tooth
- Loosening of teeth
- Boil on the gums. Sometimes pus may be discharged from a boil and have an unpleasant taste.
Advantages of getting root canal done:
The main advantage of rct is that it will prevent the spread of infection to other teeth. The other advantages are:
- Reduce the discomfort brought on by an infected tooth.
- Reduce the possibility of jawbone damage.
- Make it unnecessary to extract teeth.
How is the root canal treatment done?
The following steps are followed by a dentist to perform rct:
- The very first step involves the X-ray investigation. This is used to determine the spread of infection in and around the tooth. Also, the length and shape of the root canals can be evaluated.
- Next, local anesthesia is administered to numb the area around the infected tooth. This will help relieve the pain while the dentist is working, and there will be no interruption in the procedure.
- After this, the cavity is prepared. This will remove all the infected tooth structure or any previous dental restoration, and access to the pulp is made with a specific approach. The canals vary from tooth to tooth, and each tooth has specific access to the pulp opening.
- This is followed by the removal of pulp tissues with the help of an instrument. Proper removal of infected tissues is necessary. And then the shaping of canals is done. The pulp chamber and root canal need to be cleaned, disinfected, and shaped thoroughly.
- Later, these canals are to be filled with the help of gutta-percha material. And then the restoration is placed to seal the tooth.
- And the last step involves the fabrication and placement of the crown. Crown cementation is important because it helps to prevent secondary infection and reduces the likelihood of cracks or chipping in a root canal-treated tooth.
What is the cost of having root canal treatment done?
The cost varies from dental clinic to clinic. But on average, INR 2,000 – 4,000 can be expected. The cost of crown fabrication is an additional expense. It depends on the material you choose, and it can be between INR 3000 – 6000.
Which dental clinics are recommended and where are they located?
I recommend visiting the clinics listed in the link below for the best treatment at the most reasonable price.
Is there any alternative treatment to root canal treatment?
The only alternative option to a root canal is the extraction of the tooth. Although it is best to save the tooth, if not, after removal of the tooth, it is best to replace it with a dental bridge or dental implant.
Highlights:
- Root canal is a dental procedure done to remove the infected tissues from the tooth and prevent the further spread of the infection.
- The most common symptom in patients with decayed teeth is toothache.
- The treatment involves the removal of infected pulp tissues, followed by the cleaning and shaping of root canals, which is followed by filling the canals with inert material and then restoring the tooth and sealing it with the help of restorative material.
- Crown cementation is recommended to protect the tooth from forces and pressures while eating.
Blogs on root canal treatment
Infographics on root canal treatment
Videos on root canal treatment
FAQs on rct
Root canal is a procedure used to remove inflamed pulp tissues from the tooth.
No, it is a pain-free procedure, as the dentist will numb your area with the help of local anaesthesia. Some might feel mild pain after the procedure is completed, but this will resolve in a few days.
Yes, this treatment is totally safe.
Yes, to prevent the spread of infection to other teeth and sometimes to the jaw, it is better to go for root canal. Also, with increased time and an untreated tooth, the pain may get worse.
It is advised to go for root canal if the infection has spread to the pulp. If not treated promptly, the tooth must be extracted, and there is a high risk of infection spreading to other teeth.
Yes, nowadays, single-seated rct is done by the dentist.
Most of the patients do not feel discomfort after 2 or 3 days. However, it can take up to 7 days to fully recover. If pain persists even after a week, it is recommended that you visit your dentist.
The following are the symptoms one can experience if root canal for teeth has failed: They are pain, pus discharge, swelling around the tooth, sinus formation, or a boil on the gum.
