Root canal therapy is a procedure that is done to save a tooth that has become extremely damaged or infected. When the pulp of the tooth, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels, becomes infected or destroyed, root canal therapy is performed. The pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed during root canal therapy.
Root canals are feared by many people because they are thought to be painful. In fact, the majority of people say the operation is no more unpleasant than getting a filling. Not the process itself, but the suffering experienced in the days preceding up to seeking dental care is extremely awful. We have come up with this blog to draw an end to myths related to root canal therapy. This treatment is absolutely safe and helps to resolve critical dental problems.
Signs That Tell You To Go For Root Canal
The following are signs that you may require root canal therapy:
- When chewing or applying pressure on the tooth causes severe discomfort
- Long-term sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures (pain) (after the heat or cold has been removed)
- Tooth discoloration (darkening)
- Gum swelling and discomfort in the vicinity
- A pimple on the gums that is persistent or recurring
In case you face any of the above-mentioned conditions, do not hesitate to get in touch with a dentist.
Find Out About The Root Canal Procedure
A dentist or an endodontist can perform root canal therapy in one or more dental office visits. A dentist who specializes in the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders and injuries of the dental pulp is known as an endodontist. The severity of the root canal surgery required in your particular tooth, as well as the general dentist’s level of comfort operating on your tooth, play a role in deciding which sort of dentist to hire. Your dentist will talk to you about who would be best suited to do the work in your circumstance.
The first stage in the operation is to take an X-ray to evaluate the geometry of the root canals and to see if the surrounding bone shows any signs of infection. Your dentist or endodontist will then numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. Although anesthesia may not be required because the nerve is dead, most dentists nonetheless anesthetize the area to make the patient feel more relaxed. Your dentist will next place a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) around the tooth to keep the area dry and free of saliva during the treatment.
The tooth will next be drilled with an access hole. The pulp is extracted from the tooth, along with germs and other debris. Root canal files are used to clean up the insides of the canals. After that, a series of these files of increasing diameter are inserted into the access hole and scraped and scrubbed the sides of the root canals down the length of the tooth. The debris is flushed away with water or sodium hypochlorite on a regular basis.
The tooth must be sealed once it has been cleaned properly. Before sealing the tooth, some dentists prefer to wait a week. If a tooth is infected, for example, your dentist may place a drug within the tooth to clear it up. Others may want to seal the tooth on the same day as it is cleaned. A temporary filling is placed in the external hole in the tooth to keep pollutants out between sessions if root canal therapy is not completed the same day.
A sealant paste and a rubber compound called gutta-percha are injected into the tooth’s root canal at the next session to fill the interior of the tooth. A filling is used to fill the exterior access hole that was created at the start of therapy.
The tooth may need to be restored in the final step. Because a tooth that requires root canal therapy frequently has a big filling, considerable decay, or other weakness, it may require a crown, crown, and post, or other restoration to protect it, prevent it from fracturing, and restore it to full function. Any additional dental work will be discussed with you by your dentist.
How Much Does Root Canal Treatment Costs?
The price varies based on the severity of the issue and which tooth is involved. Endodontic treatment is mostly covered by dental insurance coverage. A ballpark estimate for a root canal treatment performed by a general dentist (without including a dental restoration after the procedure) could range from $500 to $1,000 for an incisor and $800 to $1,500 for a molar.
If you have any further questions related to the root canal, do get in touch with us. You can also book an appointment with us for top-quality root canal therapy in Houston. We are here to take proper care of your gums and teeth. Call us today.