Root Canal Truth
Several years ago, when one is suffering from a very bad toothache, tooth extraction was the way to go.When you lose a tooth your self-confidence drops and expect that more dental problems will come your way. Thankfully, technology and dentists have found a way to save a badly aching tooth at a practical cost.Such procedure is called endodontic treatment, root canal in laymans term.
Endodontic treatment or root canal is the method by which the dentist repairs and saves the tooth form the inside.In order to understand what root canal is all about, it is suggested that one has a basic knowledge on the anatomy of a tooth.The white topmost part of the teeth that one sees is called the enamel, right below it is the dentin.The pulp where the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue can be found is located after the dentin.The pulp is damaged by excessive cavity, broken tooth and even cracks on the tooth can damage the pulp.Once germs get inside the tooth, it can cause infection which when left untreated can cause abscess not only on the broken tooth but the surrounding teeth as well.
Various signs can be observed to know if you need a root canal procedure, these include the following:
·Tooth discoloration
·Swelling of the gums surrounding the tooth
·Toothache
·Sensitivity to either heat or cold
·Sometimes, one may feel pimple on the gums
When these have been observed, it is ideal to visit the dentist as soon as possible and the he will recommend that you undergo an x-ray to check the severity of the case.
How can root canal save your tooth?Simple, the dentist will just have to clean out all the germs in the infected tooth and take out the pulp, fill in the space created, and put a crown on top of the tooth to make it more functional and more realistic in appearance.The whole procedure would take around 3 or more sessions, depends on how bad the case is.
There are two types of root canal procedure, one is the first time you undergo and the other procedure being the second time you undergo it with the same toothbrought by poor dental hygiene.If the saved tooth has been subject to trauma or injury, most likely, it has to be retreated.Another reason would be a crack in the filling that has developed after the first treatment.
It is a popular belief that root canal procedure hurts.Truth of the matter is, during the procedure, anesthesia will be given to the patient and you will feel little or no pain at all.However, a few days after the procedure, you will feel some sort of sensitivity on the area but this can be relieved by taking in over-the-counter medicines or prescription drugs from your dentist.If the pain does not alleviate, pay your dentist a visit at the soonest possible time to check if there has been an infection.
After the procedure, you will be advised to not use the tooth for biting or chewing.Having a root canal does not excuse you from maintaining good oral hygiene, and that include brushing, flossing, regular visits to your dentist to ensure that no other tooth has been infected.
The cost of a root canal procedure depends on the complexity and severity of the case.If you are going to compare it with having your tooth extracted and get implants or bridges, then definitely, root canal is cheaper.It starts at an average of $400 and can go as high as $800 for molars.
