A root canal is the hollow section of a tooth containing the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells, also known as the pulp. A tooth includes a crown and roots. The crown is situated above the gum, while the roots are below it. The roots are responsible to attach the tooth to the jawbone. Inside the crown and the root is the pulp which nourishes the tooth and provides moisture to the surrounding part. The nerves are responsible to sense hot and cold temperatures as pain.
The name of the procedure to treat when a toothache occurs commonly referred to as a “root canal treatment” is actually endodontic therapy. Although, the term “root canal” has come to be commonly used to talk about this dental procedure.
List of Steps Involved in the Root Canal Treatment Therapy
Pain root canal treatment is performed in three steps and it takes between one and three sessions to complete.
The dentist cleans up the deep cavity along with the necrosed decaying nerve. All the procedure is done under local anesthesia so as to perform the treatment with utmost comfort and painless manner. The canals of the tooth are irrigated and shaped precisely. The dentist cleans, shapes, and decontaminates the hollow area using tiny files and irrigation solutions.
In the next step, the tooth is filled with a rubber-like material by using a type of adhesive cement to seal the canals completely. After root canal therapy, the patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth as the nerve tissue has been removed and the infection has been eliminated.
- Adding a Crown or Filling
After the filling of the root canal, the tooth will be more fragile than it was before. Now, the tooth with no pulp must receive its nourishment from the ligament that is responsible to attach the tooth to the bone. This supply is adequate, but in time, it will become more brittle. Therefore, a crown or filling offers appropriate protection. Once the crown or filling procedure is completed, the person can use the tooth, the same as before. This procedure of root canal treatment often takes only one appointment, but if there are curved canals, multi-canals, or large infections, this could include one or more additional appointments.
How Painful is It?
One of the biggest fears about pain root canal treatment is that it will be painful, but if the treatment is carried out by a trained dental surgeon, it should be relatively less painful. The usual pain that is felt, comes from the infection and not from the treatment.
The dental surgeon relieves the pain of the procedure by numbing the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthesia. Although after the treatment, some tenderness is normal. It is temporary and over-the-counter pain medication may be enough to relieve it. If required, prescription drugs such as codeine are available. The dentist may also prescribe an antibiotic to treat or prevent the infection.
Takeaway
Root canal treatments are performed millions of times each year and in most cases, endodontic treatment can successfully save a tooth that is infected or damaged. Modern technologies and anesthetics help to ensure that a root canal procedure is as comfortable as possible. People experiencing severe or lasting pain should report it to the endodontist for further evaluation.
If you are required to undergo painless root canal treatment near you, The Dental Roots is your one-stop solution. You can make an appointment by visiting our website and also go through anything you need to know about root canal treatment.