Root Canal Therapy - Procedure To Save And Preserve Your Teeth
If you have had some pain in your tooth for more than 24 hours, make sure to visit your dentist as soon as possible because it could be an infection of the root canal. The pain may occur because the root canals are infected or damaged. A dentist may recommend getting endodontics near you to remove the infected pulp.
What is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is a technique that can save teeth from damage. This treatment, also known as dental pulp therapy, is a safe and effective treatment that removes the infection, irritants, and toxins that can cause tooth decay or gingivitis.
It involves removing the pulp (the soft and living tissue) from the center of a tooth and then filling it with a healthy substance dental cement, or synthetic resin for temporary support.
Before you can get a root canal treatment, it is important to know what the pulp cavity is and its importance. The pulp chamber is a term used to describe the tooth’s innermost cavity. It is filled with blood vessels and nerves, which provide nourishment to the tooth.
The pulp can get infected because of bacteria or repeated dental procedures and cause pain and swelling. If the affected tissues are not removed, the infection can spread to the rest of the mouth and body. The dentist may recommend a root canal in Burlington, ON, to address the situation in time.
What Happens During a Root Canal Treatment?
Our Burlington dentist will start by numbing the gum and areas on and around the tooth to make you feel less pain. The dentist will then create an entry point on the surface of the tooth and remove your tooth’s pulp.
He will clean the cavity to remove bacteria or debris left and then fill it with a rubber dam. The temporary filling material is used for about 1-2 weeks before the permanent crown is fixed in place.
A common misconception is that endodontic treatment is painful. However, our root canal dentist will use anesthesia and dental sedation to ease the pain and relax you during the procedure.
What are the Benefits of Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is an effective way to treat problems in the mouth. It uses a local anesthetic to numb the pain caused by tooth decay and inflammation.
The benefits of root canal therapy are many; the most prominent one is that it offers relief from painful symptoms like swelling and sensitivity without causing any major side effects like bleeding or infection.
What are the Risks of Root Canal Surgery?
A root canal is minimally invasive and causes little to no pain, but it does carry risks;
1) Infection: Sometimes bacteria could multiply and spread to the bloodstream. This can cause infection and inflammation in other areas such as heart valves, brain, and facial bones.
2) Severe pain: The nerve fibers at the site could be damaged during treatment which causes pain in the area for weeks or months after surgery because there is no natural painkiller present to block this type of nerve fiber.
What to Do After a Root Canal Procedure?
Root canal surgery is a very common and painful dental surgery. However, the pain of this surgery can be relieved by following some aftercare instructions.
The dentist will provide you with an aftercare instruction sheet that you will need to follow.
Some post-op recommendations include:
- Do not drink cold drinks for 24 hours after your surgery.
- Avoid eating large amounts of sugar and acidic foods like fruit juice, carbonated beverages, and tomato sauce.
- Use ice packs or cold spoons to soothe tired teeth while you sleep.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment or cream to your gums, lips, and tongue; these act as protection against infection.
- Take pain medication as directed by your doctor; this will help with any discomfort after surgery.
- Eat soft foods like mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt for a couple of days so that the healing process can take place properly.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Harbour View Dental for more information about root canals and what you can expect before and after the procedure.