Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is also known as endodontic therapy. It is used to treat patients who have an infected root canal (dental pulp). Each tooth in your mouth has one or more root canals: front teeth have one, side teeth have two and back molars have three.

Pulpitis is when the pulp or root canal becomes inflamed causing pain and discomfort in the surrounding areas. You can choose to remove the entire tooth or undergo root canal treatment.

The symptoms of infection are very obvious and cause people to seek help. It is necessary for the infected tissue to be removed as soon as possible so it does not cause further damage. Without treatment, the infection will spread, the bone around the tooth will begin to break down, the tooth may fall out and other areas of the body can be adversely affected.

Once the root canals have been cleaned, they are filled with an inert material and covered with a filling or dental crown. A root canal is carried out by a specialist called an endodontist but regular dentists may also perform this treatment. The best way to avoid a root canal is by maintaining good oral hygiene.

The cost of a root canal varies widely. In Western countries it can be particularly expensive. As a result, medical tourists are seeking more affordable cosmetic dentistry abroad. The extent of the infection can influence your final cost significantly as well as the material used to fill in the root canal.

Root canal treatment is quite safe and effective. It can, however, fail and cause further risks and side effects. There are a number of reasons for this and your dentist will explain to you why your root canal might not be successful or if you are at particular risk. Procedural accidents are possible as well as the expected potential complications.

Root Canal Treatment Procedure

The root canal procedure will require a number of visits to the dentist. This includes your first consultation, the actual treatment and checkups. The root canal procedure will be performed by a specialist called an endodontist or a dentist.

The first thing the endodontist will do is numb the area around the infected tooth with a local anesthetic. If you require a mild sedation, he may also provide this as the root canal procedure can be rather invasive.

A hole is drilled through the top of your tooth to access the infected pulp. It may be necessary to drill through the back of your tooth if that will provide better access. Using special tools the endodontist will remove the infected root canal and clean out the pulp chamber with an antiseptic solution. This part of the root canal procedure is very important because no infected material should be left behind to cause further damage.

Significant technological advances have been made in the area of root canal treatment over the last couple of decades. The root canal procedure now takes 1-2 hours and employs tools that make it easier and faster.

Scientific measurements of the root canal can be taken so it can be filled quickly and efficiently. The root canal procedure, however, is not yet 100% successful and there are a number of root canal risks and side effects that patients need to be aware of.

After the infected pulp has been removed and the root canal has been cleaned, the endodontist fills the space with a calcium hydroxide paste. This will only be a temporary filling for a week or so until the next visit. The alkaline paste disinfects and reduces the inflammation in the tooth and surrounding areas. Regular pain medication is also taken during this time to help manage discomfort.

At the next appointment, the temporary filling is removed and the mouth is examined for further infection. Either permanent fillings or a dental crown is used to close up the tooth after the root canal has been filled with gutta-percha. The dental crown is necessary because it helps to stabilize the tooth after the root canal procedure.

It is important that you have regular checkups after your root canal to make sure all is going well. If your tooth becomes infected again, you will not be able to feel the pain that indicates infection because the nerves have been removed. Special x-rays are needed to detect any complications that arise.

Risks and Side Effects of Root Canal Treatment

There are a number of root canal risks and side affects you should be aware of. The root canal procedure is quite successful in most cases but can fail. Some of these reasons are related to the surgery itself while others are related to your particular situation and your body’s inability to heal correctly.

When you first make a consultation with an endodontist, he will explain the root canal risks and side effects to you so that you understand and accept them.

The cost of a root canal can be quite expensive. If your treatment is not successful, you may end up having to pay more for subsequent treatments. In order to avoid root canal risks and side effects, you need to be committed to practicing good oral hygiene. Brush and floss regularly and avoid certain foods. You also need to see the dentist for regular checkups so he can detect anything that you may not have noticed.

Root Canal Risks and Side Effects:

· The infection can spread if it is not all removed during the procedure. Sometimes it can be difficult to detect and extract all of the diseased pulp. In this case, you will need another root canal treatment

· Some of the inert filling may not completely seal off the roots from exposure to bacteria, they may then get infected again

· Your root canal may be awkwardly shaped which makes filling it up difficult

· The tooth might be damaged during treatment by the instruments being used

· The instrument might break and be left behind during the treatment

· A permanent filling or dental crown is not placed over the hole in the tooth leading to more infection. Or, it is not placed correctly

· General root canal treatment failure. This can happen in the days, weeks, months or years after the surgery

· Pain, inflammation, soreness and tenderness are likely in the days following your treatment. These can usually be managed by over the counter pain medications

· If you do not look after your teeth properly or pay particular attention to the treated tooth, your teeth may become infected and start to decay again

· If the decay is too deep in the root canal, tooth extraction may be necessary

· If the decay has progressed significantly, other areas of your body may be affected. These complications can be difficult, painful and more expensive