Teeth cleaning is the basis of every man’s hygiene. Unfortunately, you can not solve all dental problems by brushing your teeth. For some dental issues, we need to see a dental doctor or dentist.
If you are planning a root canal treatment soon and need more information about this procedure, you are in the right place. In this article, we will explain to you all the information you need to know before your treatment.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
The main parts of the tooth are the crown and the root. The crown is above the gums and the root below it. The role of the root is to attach the tooth to the jawbone.
The root canal is a narrow space inside the tooth that extends from the tip to the tooth’s center. In these internal dental spaces are the nerves and blood vessels that feed the tooth during growth. These tissues are not needed in adults, but they still feel external stimulants such as cold, heat, pain, etc.
The tissues inside the dental chamber can become inflamed and infected, causing pain.
This problem can be caused by various factors, the most famous of which are:
- Bacterial infection
- Caries
- Tooth damage
The root canal is not a part of the tooth, and the root canal treatment procedure is called endodontic therapy. Lately, this procedure is usually called root canal treatment.
The purpose of root canal treatment is to relieve pain and stop dental infections from occuring.
Who Performs Root Canal Treatment?
In general, all dentists have learned through their studies how to treat root canal problems. Lately, some dentists have been additionally trained and educated for this procedure and are called endodontists.
Endodontists, after completing dental school, complete an additional specialization to diagnose and treat this problem. General dentists prefer to refer patients to endodontists as they have more experience in the field.
What Are the Steps?
If the tooth pulp becomes injured, the tissue begins to die. If there is an opening, bacteria will populate the area and infect the surrounding tissue. Infections can affect a complete tooth and result in the death of the entire tooth. To prevent tooth decay, we need to act on time and begin root canal treatment before it is too late.
There are three crucial steps to root canal treatment, and we can group them into:
- Cleaning the root canal
- Filling the root canal
- Adding a crown or filling
Cleaning the root canal
The first step of this procedure is for the dentist to remove everything inside the root canal.
The treatment begins by making a small access hole in the surface and removing diseased and dead tissue with small files. During this procedure, patients are under the influence of local anesthesia and do not feel anything.
Filling the root canal
In the second step, the root canal treatment is cleaned and shaped by the dentist.
After cleaning, the channel is filled with rubber-shaped material and finally glued to completely close the drain. After the root canal procedure, the tooth is dead, and the patient will no longer feel pain.
Adding a crown or filling
After this procedure, the tooth becomes more fragile, so a crown or filling is placed as additional protection to the dead tooth. After the treatment and placement of the crown or filling, the person can use this tooth the same as before.
This treatment usually takes only one examination, but it can take up to three or four days if an extensive infection or multiple canals occur.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Root Canal Treatment?
Recovery time after a root canal depends on several factors such as:
- Extent of infection
- The length of the dental procedure
- Number of treated root canals
Recommendations for faster recovery root canal treatment:
- If you are a smoker, avoid cigarettes for at least seven days after the procedure
- Avoid hard, spicy, cold, and hot foods for the next two days
- Avoid alcohol consumption for the next two days
- Practice teeth cleaning as good oral hygiene
In most cases, dentists recommend antibiotics and pain medicine to treat this problem. In any case, it takes one or two weeks for complete tooth recovery after a root canal treatment.
What Does It Cost?
The cost of dental canal treatment largely depends on several factors, but saving teeth with this method is always cost-effective.
The replacement for this method is tooth extraction and implant placement, which are much more expensive. After all, the price for your health is always affordable.
Bottom line
We have described to you what the root canal treatment procedure looks like. With today’s technology and knowledge, this procedure can be completely painless and successful.
If you have dental problems, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. Any timely visit to the doctor can reduce the consequences of various issues. Remember that your health is priceless. You should pay attention to teeth cleaning, which highly reduces the occurrence of any oral problems.
