Root canal treatment, also known as root canal therapy, saves more than your tooth
Root canal treatment still has a bit of bad stigma around it. How this treatment is performed nowadays is that it’s usually no more painful than getting a filling. Although, it’s important to remember everyone’s pain threshold and oral health is different.
What is root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy is the treatment of decayed root canals in the tooth. It takes multiple appointments and often is finished by placing a dental crown to protect the treated tooth. When we say treat the decayed root canals this involves removing the decayed pulp and dead nerves and replacing them with a special dental putty to maintain the structural integrity of your teeth.
Once the infected tooth pulp and nerves have been removed, your tooth is essentially dead. So, you shouldn’t have toothache post-treatment.
How is root canal therapy done?
It takes between 3 and 4 appointments to complete root canal therapy. The first appointment is when your tooth is assessed and a treatment plan is created. The treatment plan will show how many treatments you will require, and what to expect during treatment.
Your second appointment is when your dentist will start treating the tooth. Depending on how severe the infection is, you may require two appointments to complete clean and fill your infected tooth.
Once the infected tooth pulp and nerves have been removed, and the dental putty has been placed we will place a dental crown if necessary. The reason a dental crown is placed is to protect now the clean and infection-free tooth.
How do I know if I need root canal treatment?
Toothache is a good indication you may need root canal treatment. Other indications include:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink
- Tooth hurting spontaneously
- Tooth pain when you chew or put pressure on the tooth
The issue with these symptoms is that they can also be symptomatic of gum disease. Although, gum disease has the added symptom of bleeding gums during brushing and flossing.
If you are experience one or more of these symptoms we strongly recommend you visit your dentist for a check-up. If it is gum disease, we offer gum disease treatment. If it is a problem with your tooth, and not your gums we will explain all your options to you and provide you with a cost estimate.
Root canal treatment or tooth extraction?
The longer you can keep your natural teeth, the better it is for your oral health. Teeth are important for your speech and digestion as well as:
- Health of your jaws
- Health of your gums
- Your bite
By treating a tooth with root canal treatment you clean out the infected dental tissue to prevent any serious problems from spreading into your jaw.
Tooth extraction
A tooth extraction is quicker than root canal treatment. And some patients don’t even require anaesthetic. One minute the tooth is there, then it’s not. Tooth extraction’s cheaper than root canal therapy too. But you only have one set of adult teeth. Removing a tooth can create oral problems because your jaw requires the tooth root for stimulation.
Once a tooth is removed the jawbone around that tooth root starts to atrophy. Teeth on either side of the gap start to shift which can give you a crooked bite and this can cause headaches.
Root canal treatment from Dream Smiles Sunnybank for patients in Brisbane
Don’t suffer from toothache unnecessarily—visit Dream Smiles for a check-up and we can help alleviate your dental pain. For more information, or to request an appointment, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
A root canal procedure involves numbing the area around a tooth with local anaesthesia, creating an opening in the crown to access the pulp chamber and canals, removing infected pulp, cleaning and shaping the canals, disinfecting them, filling with gutta-percha to prevent re-infection, placing a temporary filling, and later adding a custom dental crown for protection. Mild discomfort post-procedure can be managed with pain relievers, and follow-up appointments ensure healing. Root canals save teeth by removing infection and alleviating pain, with proper oral care and check-ups needed for long-term health.
During a root canal procedure, local anaesthesia is used to numb the area around the affected tooth, ensuring that you don’t feel pain during the treatment. While some discomfort or pressure might be experienced, especially when the anaesthesia is administered, the procedure itself should not be painful. In fact, the goal of a root canal is to alleviate the pain caused by the infected or damaged pulp within the tooth. After the procedure, some mild discomfort or sensitivity is common, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you’re concerned about pain or discomfort, discussing your worries with the dentist or endodontist beforehand can help address your concerns and ensure your comfort throughout the process.
Leaving an untreated infected tooth can lead to serious complications, including the spread of infection to surrounding tissues, causing abscesses, severe pain, and cellulitis; potential bone infection; systemic infection affecting other body parts; risk of tooth loss due to damage to supporting structures; chronic inflammation impacting overall health; and compromised immune response. Addressing tooth infections promptly through dental care is crucial to preventing these risks, with treatment options such as root canals, extractions, and antibiotics depending on the severity of the infection.
