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About Root Canal Treatment
Root
canal treatments are made when the
soft tissue inside the tooth (pulp)
is inflamed or dead. The pulp
is a tissue made up of blood
vessels, nerves, and connective
tissue.
If there is a significant amount of
tooth decay, a large restoration
such as a crown or filling, or
trauma to the tooth, the pulp of the
tooth can become inflamed or even
die
An inflamed pulp can cause a
toothache or remain painless. When
the pulp dies, the root canal (the
area the pulp lived in) can quickly
become infected with bacteria. This
infection can cause pain and
swelling in the abscess (supporting
tissues) or in some cases the tooth
can remain symptom-free.
A Root Canal Treatment is performed
to remove inflamed tissue and/or
bacteria in the root canal allowing
surrounding tissues to heal. After
the root canal system is cleaned,
the space where the pulp was is
filled with a root filling in order
to prevent another infection. A
rubbery natural substance called
gutta percha is used as the root
filling material.
The root canal system, is often
quite complex and not easily
cleaned. As a result, most dentists
prefer to refer Root Canal Treatment
patients to a Endodontist who has
the training, equipment and
experience to perform a proper Root
Canal Treatment. The
Endodontist will use a surgical
microscope during treatment, to
magnify the tooth to approximately
x20, enhancing the success rates.
There is usually not much discomfort
during or after the procedure and
most of the time the patient is
unconscious during the treatment and
after the treatment given adequate
anesthetics.
The treatment is time consuming
because of its complexity but can
readily be done using modern local
anesthetic techniques with little or
no discomfort.
Care Before Root Canal Treatment
Make sure to brush your teeth and
arrange for a driver to take you
home if needed. Also you may want to
prepare the foods you will be eating
when you get home, nothing hot or
spicy: lukewarm or cool foods are
best
-Wear comfortable clothing.
-Eat a light breakfast or lunch
prior to the procedure.
-Avoid alcohol and medications that
cause drowsiness unless approved by
the doctor.
-Take daily medications as usual
unless instructed otherwise by the
doctor.
Care After Root Canal Treatment
Often, due to the anesthetic
administered during the treatment,
it is advised that the patient not
operate a vehicle immediately, so
necessary arrangements may need to
be made. Consult Dr. Nance's office
to find out if this applies to your
treatment. It is normal for patients
to experience some soreness after
treatment as the supporting tissues
of the tooth may be a little
bruised.
You should not chew or bite on the
treated tooth until you have had it
restored by your dentist. The
unrestored tooth is susceptible to
fracture, so you should see your
dentist for a full restoration as
soon as possible. Otherwise, you
need only practice good oral
hygiene, including brushing,
flossing, and regular checkups and
cleanings.
Most endodontically treated teeth
last as long as other natural teeth.
In a few cases, a tooth that has
undergone endodontic treatment does
not heal or the pain continues.
Occasionally, the tooth may become
painful or diseased months or even
years after successful treatment.
Often when this occurs, redoing the
endodontic procedure can save the
tooth.
Currently, we can expect success
rates of over 90% for first time
root canal treatments performed by a
specialist Endodontist. The success
rate is reduced to about 80% when an
existing root treatment needs
redoing if it has failed. As
yet, there are no long term
scientific data to tell us how long
a root treatment will last although
long term failure does not appear to
be a problem clinically.
What is an Endodontist?
An Endodontist is a dentist with
special training in diagnosing and
treating problems associated with
the inside of the tooth. They do
only endodontic procedures in their
practices because they are
specialists. To become specialists,
they complete dental school and an
additional two or more years of
advanced training in endodontics,
one of the nine specialties
recognized by the American Dental
Association. They perform routine as
well as difficult and very complex
endodontic procedures, including
retreatment of previous root canals
that have not healed completely, as
well as endodontic surgery.
Endodontists are also experienced at
finding the cause of oral and facial
pain that has been difficult to
diagnose.
Who performs endodontic treatment?
All dentists, including your general
dentist, receive basic training in
endodontic treatment in dental
school. General dentists often refer
patients needing endodontic
treatment to endodontists.
Why would I need an endodontic
procedure?
Endodontic treatment is necessary
when the pulp, the soft tissue
inside the root canal, becomes
inflamed or infected. The
inflammation or infection can have a
variety of causes: deep decay,
repeated dental procedures on the
tooth, or a crack or chip in the
tooth. In addition, an injury to a
tooth may cause pulp damage even if
the tooth has no visible chips or
cracks. If pulp inflammation or
infection is left untreated, it can
cause pain or lead to an abscess.
What are the signs of needing
endodontic treatment?
Signs to look for include pain,
prolonged sensitivity to heat or
cold, tenderness to touch and
chewing, discoloration of the tooth,
and swelling, drainage and
tenderness in the lymph nodes as
well as nearby bone and gingival
tissues. Sometimes, however, there
are no symptoms.
How does endodontic treatment save
the tooth?
The endodontist removes the inflamed
or infected pulp, carefully cleans
and shapes the inside of the canal,
a channel inside the root, then
fills and seals the space.
Afterwards, you will return to your
dentist, who will place a crown or
other restoration on the tooth to
protect and restore it to full
function. After restoration, the
tooth continues to function like any
other tooth.
Will I feel pain during or after the
procedure?
Many endodontic procedures are
performed to relieve the pain of
toothaches caused by pulp
inflammation or infection. With
modern techniques and anesthetics,
most patients report that they are
comfortable during the procedure.
For the first few days after
treatment, your tooth may feel
sensitive, especially if there was
pain or infection before the
procedure. This discomfort can be
relieved with over-the-counter or
prescription medications. Follow
your endodontist’s instructions
carefully.
Your tooth may continue to feel
slightly different from your other
teeth for some time after your
endodontic treatment is completed.
However, if you have severe pain or
pressure or pain that lasts more
than a few days, call your
endodontist.
How much will the procedure cost?
The cost varies depending on how
complex the problem is and which
tooth is affected. Molars are more
difficult to treat, the fee is
usually more. Most dental insurance
policies provide some coverage for
endodontic treatment.
Generally, endodontic treatment and
restoration of the natural tooth are
less expensive than the alternative
of having the tooth extracted. An
extracted tooth must be replaced
with a bridge or implant to restore
chewing function and prevent
adjacent teeth from shifting. These
procedures tend to cost more than
endodontic treatment and appropriate
restoration. With root canal
treatment you save your natural
teeth and money.
What causes an endodontically
treated tooth to need additional
treatment?
New trauma, deep decay, or a loose,
cracked or broken filling can cause
new infection in your tooth. In some
cases, the endodontist may discover
additional very narrow or curved
canals that could not be treated
during the initial procedure.
Can all teeth be treated
endodontically?
Most teeth can be treated.
Occasionally, a tooth can’t be saved
because the root canals are not
accessible, the root is severely
fractured, the tooth doesn’t have
adequate bone support, or the tooth
cannot be restored. However,
advances in endodontics are making
it possible to save teeth that even
a few years ago would have been
lost. When endodontic treatment is
not effective, endodontic surgery
may be able to save the tooth.
Copy & Information source - American
Association of Endodontists
Online at -
http://www.aae.org/patients/faqs/rootcanals.htm
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