What to expect before, during and after root canal treatment
An advanced dental procedure, root canal treatment is designed to remove damage and infection to save teeth.
With its reputation for being painful, root canal work is sometimes a scary prospect for patients. However, this specialised surgery has come a long way, and root canal treatment isn’t the frightening and painful process of the past.
Modern approaches to root canals make them comparable to a routine filling, and treatments typically take only one to two appointments to complete.
It’s understandable that when you hear you need a root canal, you’ll have concerns and questions. At Art of Dental Care, our team are experts at conducting this common procedure, and to ease any anxiety you’re experiencing regarding a root canal, we’ve outlines what to expect.
Read on to learn more about what a root canal is, and what will happen before, during and after your procedure.
What is root canal treatment?
In simple terms, a root canal is defined as a multi-step dental treatment that involves infected or damaged pulp being removed from a tooth, root canals being cleaned and the application of a biocompatible dental material designed to prevent any infection returning.
Before root canal treatment
The main reason to have a root canal is to preserve a tooth that has become extremely decayed or infected. The dental procedure takes its name from the impacted part of the tooth. The root canal is a space inside a tooth containing its nerve and dental pulp.
If the area within the tooth becomes infected or decay spreads out and reaches the nerve, a root canal is usually the best option to save your tooth and stop dental pain. Dentists achieve this by extracting dying or dead tissue from the root canal and eradicating any bacteria present.
Common signs that you could have an infected tooth are a sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures, gum inflammation, pus secretions, pain when eating, throbbing in your jaw or mouth, a pimple-like swelling on your gum and/or darkening of the tooth.
If you experience any of these unwanted symptoms, it is important to act quickly and consult your dentist. Any delay in dealing with an infected or damaged tooth can create greater problems later and increases pain.
During root canal treatment
The root canal process starts with an X-ray taken before treatment takes place. The X-ray lets dentists see the shape and size of the root and helps them identify if infection has started to spread out to the surrounding bone. Sometimes, this step happens immediately before surgery or may occur at an earlier appointment.
At the root canal appointment, you’ll receive local anaesthesia that numbs the tooth and its surrounding area to make sure you don’t experience any pain. In most treatments, a small rubber sheet known as a “dental dam” is fitted around your tooth. This keeps it dry, clean and free of saliva during root canal treatment.
Once the tooth and surrounding area are numb, your dentist will make a small incision in the infected tooth with specialist tools known as root canal files. They then conduct a pulpectomy that extracts decayed tissue, diseased pulp and any bacteria present in the tooth. The area is then cleaned thoroughly, removing any debris.
Your dentist will then fill in the root canals with a special material to seal them. In cases where the decay or infection was severe, they will fit a dental crown or temporary filling to seal up the hole in the tooth. At a later dental appointment, a permanent crown or filling will be put in place.
After the root canal treatment
After the dental procedure, your tooth and the surrounding area will experience numbness for between two to four hours. Most patients find they can return to school or work the same day; however, patients are advised to avoid eating hard foods straight after treatment, and if you get a temporary crown, you should not chew on that side of your mouth until a permanent crown is fitted.
Sensitivity and pain following a root canal is typically mild and is comparable to after getting a filling. Patients usually find that store-bought pain medication such as ibuprofen is enough to ease discomfort, but if pain continues or increases, you should always consult your dentist.
If you require root canal treatment in Chester, you can count on us. A local private practice providing a full range of dental services in the area, at Art of Dental Care, we specialise in offering a relaxed and comfortable patient experience designed to be as pain-free as possible. Contact us today to book an appointment.