Little does one realize that the much-despised root canal therapy has long been the product of a third-party’s subjective experience thrusted upon an innocent bystander and earned a bad name due to it being unknown or very simply, a lack of accurate information. In fact, root canal therapy is a simple and painless procedure, at least in the practice of modern day medicine. Dentists and patients will forever remain grateful towards the advent of local anesthesia. Apart from having to endure the tiny prick from a syringe which all of us have experienced as children, the entire procedure should remain comfortably numb to your feelings. Root canal therapy is a boon to the practice of dentistry enabling the patient to retain his or her diseased natural tooth.
Let us quickly run through some know-hows of the procedure to make your next appointment to the dentist’s office a calming and anxiety-free trip.
A tooth is made up of various components, namely enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp. When the infection from the dentin due to untreated cavities slowly progresses to the pulp, the tooth begins to feel pain due to its innervation by nerve endings and blood vessels. It is usually associated with symptoms of pricking, shooting, stabbing pain that may radiate to the temples, eyes, jaws and ears depending upon the location of the tooth. Pain triggers by hot or cold foods and air may occur. Sometimes the symptoms may increase on lying down.
At this point, performing a surgical procedure to remove the pulp along with its blood vessels and nerve tissue becomes compulsory since the infection has spread deep enough to conserve its vitality through simple conservative procedures. Instances of traumatic accidents may also necessitate a root canal therapy.
It is a process of excavating and ridding the tooth of infection by removing the diseased pulp and then cleaning the canals of the tooth to relieve it from pain. After obliteration of the bacterial load through repeated cleaning in two or three sessions, the canals of the tooth are finally filled with a compact material to prevent any future infection. This is then followed by another top permanent filling to seal the opening of the tooth.
Conventionally, root canal therapy requires a total of three to four sessions each lasting about 30 to 40 minutes. Each session may be spaced anywhere between two to four days apart. The therapy is tailor-suited to each patient depending upon the nature of the case.
Absolutely not! The procedure is commenced only after anesthetizing the tooth and the tissues around it. Some patients complain of irritating pressure pricks which are usually painless. If at any instance you feel pain, alert your doctor to give you another dose of anesthesia and the entire procedure should run smoothly. The only major complaints include having to keep the mouth open for a long period of 20 to 40 minutes, which may give you a feeling of fatigue and pain in the jaws. Just bring your iPod along to distract yourself!
Yes, if you do not cap the treated tooth with a crown prosthesis. This is a replacement of the diseased portion of your tooth that is routinely removed during root canal therapy. Crown replacements are mandated to allow the tooth to retain their strength in order to withstand various forces applied in the mouth by way of eating food, biting, clenching etc. and prevent fractures.
A simple 15 minute tooth-preparation procedure is performed after the final sitting of the root canal therapy, to create an acceptable shape of the tooth receiving a crown. The final crown is cemented two to three days later during which time a temporary crown is placed.
Various crowns are available in porcelain, metal, porcelain-fused-to metal, resin, ceramics etc. The type of prosthesis is decided by your dentist, also taking into consideration the patient’s preferences.
The chances are almost close to nil, provided the tooth has been sealed up completely, followed by a crown placement.
Routine dental scaling every six to nine months to remove any tartar accumulation that may build up around the crown prosthesis and other teeth due to food-habits, improper brushing, smoking, hormones, pregnancy and other health related conditions etc. Avoid application of excessive force in the prosthesis area. Regularly floss in areas that are hard to reach by toothbrushes. Follow good oral hygiene habits to prevent the possibility of a second root canal therapy.
And till then stay fit, stay healthy and smile!
