Root Canal Treatment
Root
Canal Treatment
.jpg)
Endodontic
treatment (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth), commonly
known as root canal treatment, is needed when the pulp becomes
inflamed or infected. The causes could be deep tooth decay, repeated
dental procedures on one tooth (replacing a large filling, for
example), or traumatic damage such as a crack, chip or even a root
fracture. Gum disease can also give rise to root canal problems
necessitating root canal treatment.
Any
of these issues can result in acute inflammation of the pulp, which
causes swelling and pressure inside the tooth (that has nowhere to
go), leading to tooth pain and, eventually, irreversible damage to
the pulp. Once the pulp dies, the pain may subside initially,
sometimes to return as an acute (painful) infection spreading into
the periapical tissues (“peri” – around; “apex” – end),
particularly the bone. It could also become a chronic (long-standing)
infection with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
Generally
speaking, whatever the cause of root canal or pulpal disease, root
canal or endodontic treatment will be necessary to save the tooth.
All dentists receive training in endodontic treatment and can perform
root canal procedures, but often a general dentist will refer
individuals who need endodontic treatment to an endodontist, a root
canal specialist.
Endodontists
are dentists who have completed an additional two or more years of
advanced residency training in the diagnosis and management of
diseases and disorders of the dental pulp, and in the diagnosis of
dental pain; their focus is therefore on saving teeth. In order to
make a proper assessment and accurate diagnosis of which tooth is
affected and exactly what is causing the pain, a thorough history and
examination is necessary, together with a radiographic picture
(x-ray) of the tooth or area.
Your
dentist or endodontist will check your medical history and current
medications to ensure your health and treatment safety. If you are
very nervous, an oral sedative or anti-anxiety medication may be
helpful — discuss the options with your dentist or endodontist
ahead of time.
Root
Canal Treatment, Step By Step :
Preliminary treatment to remove the decay and the source of infection of the pulp is necessary, along with a determination of whether the lost tooth structure can be restored. If a fracture of the tooth has reached the pulp, or infection is associated with gum disease, it could be more difficult, if not impossible, to save the tooth.
The
general sequence of a root canal procedure is as follows:
Step 1
Local
anesthesia is administered via injections to numb the tooth to be
treated and the surrounding tissues. If the pulp in a tooth is
acutely inflamed, and therefore very painful, it may take a while to
get it numb, but your dentist will not start the treatment until it
is.
Step 2
.jpg)
A
dental dam — a thin sheet of rubber or vinyl — will be placed
over the affected and adjacent teeth. The tooth undergoing treatment
protrudes through a hole punched in the dam, isolating it from the
rest of the mouth. This allows the root canal treatment to be carried
out in a sterile environment free from contamination by bacteria
found in saliva or the rest of the mouth.
Step 3
A
small access hole is drilled through the biting surface of an
affected back tooth or from behind a front tooth, allowing access to
the pulp chamber and root canals for treatment.
Step 4
The
diseased and dead pulp tissue is removed from the tooth with
specially designed instruments used to clean out the root canals and
pulp chamber. This is not painful; the area is numb and the tissue
being removed is either dead or dying. Once the pulp, along with the
nerves contained in it, is removed, the tooth itself can no longer
feel pain.
Step 5
The
canals are disinfected with antiseptic and antibacterial solutions.
Step 6
The canals are then shaped with tiny flexible instruments to allow them to receive root canal fillings and sealers. The canals are washed and cleaned again to remove root canal debris prior to sealing them.
Step 7
Root
canal fillings are selected that will exactly fit into the freshly
prepared
.jpg)
Step 8
A
temporary or permanent filling material will then be placed to seal
the access hole that was made to treat the canals, and the dental dam
is removed. If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold a
restoration (filling) in place, the dentist or endodontist may place
a post (either metal or a very strong plastic) in one of the canals
inside the tooth to help retain it.
Step 9
After the procedure, an antibiotic may be prescribed to treat or prevent infection. Be sure to follow the instructions of your dentist or endodontist carefully. After-effects of treatment are minimal, generally lasting from a couple of days to about a week. It is normal to have some minor discomfort after treatment including slight soreness that can usually be managed with over-the-counter (aspirin, ibuprofen) medications or prescription (codeine-type) drugs, or a combination of the two.
Step 10
Your
tooth will need a permanent restoration — a filling or a crown —
to
replace lost tooth structure, and provide a complete seal to the top of the tooth. Your endodontist will send you back to your general dentist to determine which type of restoration is best for you. This step is of particular importance since many studies show that if the filled root canals are recontaminated with bacteria from the mouth, there could be a recurrence of infection around the tooth.
.jpg)
Almost
like the root system of a plant, the root canals of a tooth have a
main branch and many smaller side branches, and the whole system
needs to be sealed during root canal treatment to be successful long
term. Since root canals are very small spaces, they require a great
deal of precision and care to treat well. Therefore, most
endodontists today use state-of-the-art technology including digital
(radiographic) imaging to diagnose root canal problems, and after
treatment to verify that the canals are properly sealed; ultrasonic
instrumentation to remove old canal fillings and posts and clean
canals; and operating microscopes to accurately locate, visualize and
seal root canal systems; it really is quite high-tech.
I
have found that people who are nervous tend to lack information about
endodontic (root canal) treatment; knowledge gives them the power to
understand what's to come and to eliminate their fears. I hope that
this step-by-step explanation will alleviate any apprehension. Root
canal treatment really does relieve pain, not cause it — and saves
teeth.
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment