Root Canal Treatment

What is a Root Canal Treatment?

The root canal procedure's main aim is to remove the bacteria from the infected root canal, stop the relapse of infection, and save the natural tooth. The inside of the tooth has a soft tissue called the pulp. A fully grown tooth can exist without the pulp, as the tissues surrounding it can nourish the tooth. At the root canal procedure, the tooth's infected pulp is extracted, cleaned, and disinfected. The tooth is then packed with a medicated material and sealed. This treatment is relatively painless and helps save a tooth.

In what conditions should you go for a root canal procedure?

A root canal becomes mandatory if you are suffering from the following symptoms:

• If a patient is suffering from acute pain while chewing and biting.
• If the tooth has developed a deep cavity.
• There is decay or darkening of the gums.
• A tooth is chipped or has developed cracks.
• The gums swell or become tender.
• There is sensitivity to hot or cold foods.

What are the advantages of the root canal process?

• A root canal procedure can relieve a person of all the pain and uneasiness. A severe toothache due to dental carries can be a hindrance for them to perform their normal duties. 
• Tooth extraction can be avoided by a timely root canal procedure. This will ensure that not only the tooth is saved but also restored to its normal function. During this process, the pulp tissue is removed from the tooth, making it no longer vital. But still, the tooth remains intact in the mouth.    
• A dental implant can replace an extracted tooth, but the treatment cost will be very steep. Hence a root canal treatment will be less costly, and at the same time, the tooth is salvaged.
• The teeth alignment in the mouth gets disturbed if a tooth is lost. The teeth start drifting and shifting, bringing in a lot of changes. A timely root canal treatment will save all this trouble.

What are the steps involved in root canal treatment?

A dentist first examines the infected tooth. A radiograph of the tooth is taken using x-rays. Local anesthesia is given to the patient to numb the tooth. The doctor will make a small hole on the top of the tooth, and the infected or damaged pulp is removed from the pulp chamber and root canals to shape the filling space. Specialized tools like tiles are used for this purpose. The hole is cleaned and shaped, and the canals are filled with a biocompatible material. The root canals are sealed with adhesive cement. The sealant helps in preventing the canals from being damaged by saliva. After a few days' time interval, the dentist will place a custom-made crown on the treated tooth to safeguard and restore it to its normal function.

Call us at Potomac Dental Group or schedule an online appointment to know more about Root Canal Treatment.