Root Canal Treatment: Purpose, Procedure, and Risks

A root canal dental procedure involves the removal of the icing part of the tooth, pulp to have the tooth from the effects of tooth decay. The tooth pulp contains a collection of nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues that help in tooth growth. In most cases, the Danner Dental professional performs a root canal procedure while the patient is under local anesthesia.

How Do You Know If You Need a Root Canal?

A root canal is necessary if there is damage to the inner part of the tooth. Mostly, this is due to the effects of tooth decay. The best thing is that the crown part of the tooth can remain intact even after the pulp is removed. Thus, removing the pulp is usually the best treatment in the case of a deeply decayed tooth.

Here are some signs indicating that you may need a root canal procedure.

• Persistent never-ending toothaches – toothache can come from an array of causes. If there is pain deep in the tooth, it may be a time for a root canal treatment near you. The pain may slow radiate to your jaw, the face, and the surrounding teeth.
• High tooth sensitivity – You may feel a sharp pain when taking a hot drink or food or eating ice cream. This is a direct sign of the need for a root canal treatment in Canton, OH. It’s especially true if the pain remains for several seconds.
• Swollen gums – With an infected tooth, it’s easy for pus to collect in the affected area. The result is inflamed, puffy, or painful, tender gums.
• Pimple on the gums – Sometimes, an infected tooth pulp may cause the formation of an abscess on the gums. Also, pus draining from the spot may cause your mouth an unpleasant smell. This calls for a quick root canal procedure on the affected tooth.
• Swollen jaw – Pus may sometimes fail to drain from the pimple and get retained. This causes a visibly swollen jaw. A root canal on the affected tooth can treat this.
• Tooth Discoloration – An infection in the tooth pulp can darken the said tooth. This is usually a result of inadequate blood supply to the tooth.
• Pain from pressure – If a tooth gets significantly painful when you eat or touch it, it indicates damage to the nerves in the tooth pulp.
• Having a chipped or cracked tooth – You may break a tooth when playing sports or biting down on a hard object. This may create a channel for bacteria to reach the tooth pulp, requiring root canal treatment.
• Loose tooth – A loose permanent tooth may indicate the presence of an infection. Pus from the infected tooth may soften the tooth’s supporting bone.

What Happens During a Root Canal Procedure?

A root canal procedure may be completed on one or two dental appointments. The dentist near you can take 30 to 60 minutes if it’s a single appointment.

Before the procedure begins, the dentist takes x-rays of the affected tooth to determine the damage’s intensity. This ensures that a root canal is the best treatment option. The steps to complete a root canal include:

• Anesthesia: You first get local anesthesia to numb the ailing tooth and the supporting structures. Your dentist may also issue medication that relaxes you through the procedure if you have dental anxiety.
• Placing dental dam: Before the procedure begins, the dentist places a small barrier over the tooth, isolating it from the rest and keeping it dry.
• Access hole: The dentist then makes a tiny opening on the tooth crown to access the tooth pulp
• Pulp removal: They then use special dental instruments to remove the pulpal nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth.
• Canal shaping: After extracting the tooth pulp, the space previously filled by the tooth pulp and the root canals are cleansed then shaped.
• Filling the canals: the dentist then fills the empty canals using flexible rubber-like dental material dubbed gutta-percha.
• Sealing the tooth: The dentist then fills the void using a short-lived dental filling to shield it from bacteria attacks.
• Final Restoration: Mostly, you need a dental crown is necessary to guard the treated tooth for bite restoration. Crowns are custom-made according to your tooth, and the fabrication can take two to three weeks. After the crown is ready, your dentist removes the temporary filling and places a permanent crown, which becomes your tooth.

What To Eat After Root Canal?

Some foods like smoothies, yogurt, and soft cereal can be taken immediately after the root canal surgery. These satisfy your hunger and soothe the area of the root canal surgery.

Other recommended foods following a root canal include eggs, soft fruits like bananas, peaches, mangoes and pears, eggs, tuna salad, pancakes, sushi, pasta and noodles, soup, and mashed vegetables. Generally, only take soft foods that won’t affect the surgery site.