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COLLINGWOOD ENDODONTICS
Root Canal: Saving the Tooth & Restoring Health
Root canals carry a certain stigma and painful connotation for many people. The saying “… about as much fun as root canal” has a basis in truth, but need not be the case. Let’s start by defining root canal, which is a procedure to save the tooth by drilling a small hole in the tooth (after numbing), removing the infected pulp, and inserting a replacement filler to support the tooth and ward off bacteria from forming again. Then we cap the tooth for strength and function.
Root canals, while admittedly not the most pleasant experience one will ever have, are a time-tested and rather straightforward procedure. You’ll be at our Collingwood dental clinic for an hour or two during your root canal, and you may experience some discomfort for the next day or two. Soon enough, however, you’ll be back in great shape, eating, speaking and smiling as you once did – only this time free of pain and infection. Contact DDS Collingwood to book your root canal appointment.
How Is A Root Canal Treatment Done?
- The dentist applies freezing; a local anaesthetic.
- The dentist places a rubber dam around the tooth being treated to shield it from bacteria in your saliva while the procedure is being performed.
- To access the damaged pulp and the root canal system, the dentist creates an opening in the tooth.
- The dentist removes the pulp using precise dental tools and cleans the canal system.
- The dentist fills and seals the canal once it has been cleaned.
- A temporary or permanent filling is then used to close the tooth's opening.
Root Canal FAQs
Endodontic therapy, sometimes referred to as a root canal procedure, is a dental procedure used to save a severely decayed or infected tooth. The dentist performs the operation by removing the infected or inflammatory pulp tissue from the inside of the tooth, cleaning the area, and then sealing it to stop the spread of infection. As a result, the tooth can be saved without having to be extracted.
You may need a root canal if the inner pulp of your tooth becomes infected or inflamed. Deep cavities, severe wounds, shattered teeth, or repeated dental procedures on the same tooth can all cause the need for a root canal. If an infection is not treated, it may spread, resulting in excruciating pain and sometimes even tooth loss. In such circumstances, a root canal can be the best option for saving a tooth.
If you have symptoms like a severe toothache, extreme sensitivity to heat and cold, gum swelling, or a pimple-like bump on the gums next to the impacted tooth, you may require a root canal. To establish whether a root canal is required, your dentist will also do a comprehensive examination that may involve X-rays. It's critical to seek dental advice as soon as possible if you believe you require one.
There may be pus surrounding the impacted tooth as well as other symptoms of a dental infection, such as persistent and severe tooth pain, increased sensitivity to temperature changes, gum swelling and soreness, poor breath, and swelling and discomfort in the gums. It's important to get dental care if you experience any of these symptoms since they could mean you require a root canal or other dental treatment.
Keep up good dental hygiene habits to avoid needing a root canal in the future. frequent brushing and flossing to eliminate plaque and germs, frequent dental exams to identify and treat tooth issues early on, and limiting sugar intake to prevent cavities are all part of this. Sport-related mouthguard use and quick tooth trauma treatment can also lessen the likelihood of root canal-related injuries.
It's important to get in touch with your dentist right away if you have any pain or discomfort following a root canal. After the procedure, some degree of soreness is typical, but it should subside in a few days. Your dentist might suggest over-the-counter painkillers or write a prescription for them. You should seek expert examination and treatment if the pain persists or gets worse to avoid infections.
Yes, to ensure the patient's comfort during a root canal surgery, sedation and local anesthesia are frequently employed. You won't experience any discomfort throughout the treatment since local anesthesia numbs the tooth and the surrounding area. The dentist may also provide sedation options such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or oral sedatives to assist you relax throughout the procedure, depending on the patient's level of anxiety or the complexity of the case.
Although they are often considered when the child's permanent teeth have fully matured, root canals can be safe and successful for young patients. Pediatric dentists will evaluate the particular circumstance and provide the best courses of action. Primary teeth (baby teeth) may occasionally need root canal therapy to keep them in place until they fall out on their own, preserving the necessary space for permanent teeth.