| Root
Canal Treatment is
the field of dentistry concerned with the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders
of the dental pulp. Years ago, teeth with
diseased or injured pulps were extracted.
Today, root canal treatment gives dentists
a safe and effective means of saving teeth.
The
pulp is made up of nerves, blood vessels,
and connective tissue, which are important
in tooth development. There are very small
canals within your tooth and they can become
infected quite easily. This causes the pulp
inside your tooth to become infected as
well. Pain and swelling may accompany the
infection. Even in the absence of pain,
certain by-products of a diseased pulp can
injure the bone that anchors your tooth
in the jaw. Our endodontist , who is a dental
specialist in root canal treatment, will
remove this infection by performing a root
canal procedure. This is one of the safest
and most effective methods of saving a damaged
tooth.
Treatment
usually requires from one to three appointments.
The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the
tooth is then cleaned, shaped, filled and
sealed to prevent recontamination of the
root canal system.
The Procedure
1.
Our endodontist will examine the tooth and
x-rays before numbing the area around the
affected tooth. A small protective sheet
called a "dental dam,” is placed over
the area. This will isolate the tooth and
keep it clean and free of saliva throughout
the procedure. We will then drill through
to the pulp area, either through the top
or the back of the tooth. Very small instruments
and an antiseptic solution will be used
to clean the pulp and root canals and a
space is shaped for a filling.
2.
When the space has been cleaned and shaped,
we will fill the root canal with a biocompatible
material. This is usually a flexible plastic
material called "gutta-percha” ensuring
that the root canals are completely sealed.
Normally, a temporary filling will be inserted
to close the opening. The temporary filling
will be removed by your dentist before the
tooth is restored.
3.
After your final visit, you must return
to our clinic for the restoration work.
If there is no sign of any infection a crown
or permanent filling will be inserted after
the root canal procedure.
| FAQS |
| Will I be
in any pain after treatment? |
You may experience some discomfort
on the tooth that has been treated.
If you are experiencing discomfort or
pain, avoid strenuous activities and
keep your head elevated at all times.
For pain, ibuprofen is recommended.
However, you should always follow our
instructions concerning medication(s).
If the prescribed medication is not
effective in relieving the pain, please
contact our clinic. |
| Will my diet
be affected after treatment? |
| Please avoid eating or drinking anything
too hot or too hard . Your mouth will
still be numb and you may not feel the
heat and burn your mouth. Eat foods
that do not require vigorous chewing
during the first few days. Eggs, soups
and milk shakes would be suitable. |
Advantages
& Disadvantages of Root Canal Treatment
Advantages
:
-
Any infection will only get worse with time,
if left untreated.
-
The greatest advantage is that the tooth
will not need to be extracted in the future.
Disadvantages:
-
Occasionally, infected tissue is pushed
through the ends of the root infecting the
gum.
This can be treated easily, but there will
be some pain until the infection is
cleared
up.
-
Canals are irregularly shaped, and if the
canal is not accurately measured then it
won’t
be cleaned or filled properly. This will
cause the pulp to become infected
again
and a second procedure will be necessary.
|
