It does happen that people become ignorant about their dental health. They think that they can prolong that tooth ache that has been persisting for the past week. When some cavities or a cracked tooth is left unchecked, they can turn out to be painful and get infected. Ultimately, they end up paying a heavier price than they would’ve if they would’ve got it treated early on. When the infection leads to pulp death, bone loss or loss of the tooth itself, then there may be a need for you to get a root canal procedure done. In this article, Dr. Jyotsna Anjankar, a renowned dentist from Andheri, Mumbai will tell us everything we need to know about root canals.
What is a root canal procedure?
It is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it. In this procedure, the canals of the tooth’s root are cleaned. Any person would be frightened, once they get the news that they were getting a root canal done because they were painful. But now, with modern techniques and the alternatives to root canals like damaged tooth extraction, replacement of the tooth with an implant or a partial denture has made the procedure comparatively less painful than it was.
If you feel that you might need to undergo a root canal, or you need a second opinion you can visit ClinicSpots. ClinicSpots is an online healthcare aggregator and the platform will help you find the dentists that perform root canals in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and many more cities. Other information like the dentist’s specialization, the procedures they perform and where do they practice will also be available.
When would you need to get a root canal done?
Our teeth consist of a soft core called the dental pulp. The pulp extends from the crown to the tip of the tooth’s root in the jawbone. When the tooth gets cracked or has a deep cavity, then if it left untreated then bacteria will enter the pulp causing infections. It leads to the death of the pulp, bone loss and loss of the tooth itself. The signs and symptoms may include:
- swelling around the face and neck
- a deep cavity in your tooth
- tooth aches
- gum swelling
- sensitivity to hot and cold
- pimples on the gums
Will you feel pain during or after the root canal?
The tooth will feel a bit different from your other teeth after the treatment. For the first few days post-treatment, the tooth may feel sensitive if there was pain or infection before the procedure. Pain can be relieved with over the counter medication which will be prescribed by your dentist.
“If your pain is too severe or you feel pressure for more than a few days, you shouldn’t hesitate to visit your dentist.”
-Dr. Jyotsna Anjankar
How is a root canal done?
Endodontic treatment can often be performed in one or two visits and involves the following steps:
- The dentist examines and takes a radiograph of the tooth, and then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth is numb, a small protective sheet called a “dental dam” over the area to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and saliva free.
- Then an opening is made in the crown of the tooth and very small instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling.
- After space is cleaned and shaped, the dentist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. The gutta-percha is placed with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. A temporary filling is placed to close the opening in most cases. The temporary filling will be removed before the tooth is restored.
- After the final visit, you must return to your dentist to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
What are the Dos and Don’ts after getting a Root Canal?
If you follow these dos and don’ts, you can make sure that you will have a good result from the root canal procedure with the least post-treatment pain:
Dos:
- Brush and clean your teeth twice a day carefully and apply soft strokes on the treated tooth.
- Chew soft food which is will not be stressful on your teeth.
- Timely consumption of the prescribed antibiotics will avoid infection during and after the root canal treatment.
- Saline gargles are effective for any tooth ailment and also alleviate pain post procedure.
- Ensure you meet your dentist for regular check-ups as it will help monitor the healing of your tooth.
- If you notice swelling inside or outside of your mouth, have an allergic reaction to medication, or your toothache returns, do contact your dentist immediately.
Don’ts:
- Do not bite or chew on the treated tooth until the dentist has restored it via permanent filling or crown.
- Avoid hot/ cold food or drinks.
- Do not eat anything until the numbness in your mouth wears off. This will prevent you from biting your cheek or tongue.
- Avoid smoking or drinking.
- Don’t delay having the treated tooth capped with a crown or other restoration as would be advised by the specialist to avoid additional damage. If delayed, it might lead to failure of your root canal therapy.
