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Root Canal Questions

 

What is endodontic treatment?

Endodontic treatment removes infection from the inside of your tooth.  Underneath the hard enamel and the dentin of your tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.

The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The pulp is important during a tooth’s growth and development, but once a tooth is fully mature it can stay in place without the pulp.  Your teeth stay attached via the supporting ligament (or periodontal ligament).

Why would I need an endodontic procedure?

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected, or when the pulp dies. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

What is Endodontics?

Endodontics is the branch of dentistry dealing with the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the dental pulp, usually by removal of the nerve and other tissue of the pulp cavity and its replacement with suitable filling material; pulp canal therapy; root canal therapy.

Endodontists are dentists with advanced post-graduate training in this field. Although general dentists can perform endodontic treatment, patients are often referred to an endodontist when the case is complicated or more difficult than usual.

How would I know that I need an endodontic treatment?

Signs include: pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gingival tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.

How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?

The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, a channel inside the root, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After treatment, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?

Dental Tourism India doctors  are dedicated to providing root canal treatment that is painless and comfortable.  Our entire team goes out of their way to make you feel at ease.

For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow the directions on the bottle.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure, swelling or pain that lasts more than a few days, please call us.

Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment after endodontic treatment?

You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The tooth is susceptible to fracture and should be restored to health (usually with a crown) as soon as possible. Then you just need to practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.

Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, removing the previous endodontic filling, medicating the canals, then placing a new endodontic filling can save the tooth.

What causes an endodontically treated tooth to need additional treatment?

New trauma or cracks, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can cause new infection in your tooth. In some cases, we may discover, using a microscope, that there are additional very small and/or curved canals that could not be found or treated during the initial procedure.

Can all teeth be treated endodontically?

Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth cannot be saved because the root canals are not accessible or the root is severely fractured.  However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.  Some teeth are so broken down or decayed that they cannot be restored or do not have adequate bone support, so while a root canal could be performed, the long-term prognosis of the tooth due to other factors, makes spending money on a root canal a poor investment.