Summary:
Root canal treatment is an endodontic procedure that removes an infection from the inside of a tooth. The popularity of this procedure has skyrocketed, with over 15 million root canal treatment procures performed every year.
But simple popularity is not enough to determine if root canal treatment is the right option for you. So, how do you decide whether you should get the treatment?
This blog is here to help you find the answer with a deeper insight into the topics related to the procedure, including:
- What is Root Canal Treatment (RCT)?
- Steps Involved In RCT
- Who Should Consider Getting Root Canal Treatments?
- How Much Do RCTs Cost?
- Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?
Continue reading as we learn more about the treatment in the following sections.
Introduction:
Everybody wants to have the perfect smile that brightens the room upon their entry. But this is a far-fetched reality, especially when you have an infection in your teeth that hampers aesthetics and causes significant discomfort.
This is where RCT comes into the picture, with an impressive success and satisfaction rate of 89%.
So, does this mean extracting a tooth with a root canal is the right option for you? This blog will address all your queries about RCT to help you make an informed decision. Let’s get started!
What is Root Canal Treatment (RCT)?
Before understanding root canal treatment, it is important to understand the role of the tooth canal. It is generally placed under the gum line, containing the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and the pulp.
Every tooth is made of crowns and roots where the crown lies above the gum while the roots rest below. It plays a vital role in attaching the tooth to the jawbone. Then comes the pulp, which helps nourish the tooth by providing moisture to the adjoining material. Nevers in the pulp sense heat and cold, giving many a sensitive sensation that can cause pain.
RCT is a dental procedure that helps heal your teeth from infections within. Treating these issues with root extraction is important because it can cause extensive pain and damage your tooth integrity and structure.
Steps Involved In RCT
The overall process of getting the treatment is much simpler than you might have imagined. The entire process can be easily divided into three basic steps, which is enough to complete the process effectively. So, let’s check out these steps to get a better idea.
Step 1: Cleaning
The first thing that Summerville SC dentists will do is remove everything from the inside of the root canal. The patient will receive a local anesthetic to ensure they feel no pain while the dentist makes a small access hole on the tooth’s surface. It will help them eliminate the infected pulp with tiny files.
Step 2: Filing The Root Canal
The next step requires the dentist to clean, shape, and decontaminate the hollowed area with tiny files and irrigation solutions. To seal the cavity effectively, they will fill the hollowed space with a rubber-like substance and apply sticky cement. After the procedure, the tooth will die, causing you no discomfort while eradicating the infection and nerve tissue.
Step 3: Adding Filling or Crown
Even after getting your root canal in Summerville, it will remain fragile. It is primarily because the tooth without pulp will seek nourishment from the ligaments attaching it to the bone. While this supply is enough for now, it will eventually make the tooth more brittle.
This is where the dental crown or filling comes into the picture to offer better protection to the tooth. Of course, the patient won’t be able to bite or chew until the completion of the crown or filling, but they can use their teeth optimally after the treatment.
Who Should Consider Getting Root Canal Treatments?
An injured or damaged pulp cannot repair itself, leaving the tissues to die out with time. In cases of deeper cavities, a loose filling, or a cracked tooth, bacteria can enter the pulp, eventually destroying it and penetrating through the opening, causing an infection in the bone.
This infection will only grow with time, weakening and breaking the tooth and leaving the ligaments to swell up and loosen the tooth. This injury will make your tooth more sensitive to cold and hot temperatures, resulting in pain and increased sensitivity. Failing to treat this will spread the infection further, leaving RCT tooth extraction as your last alternative.
This is where RCT enters as an effective procedure to save your tooth and relieve you from the pain. So, anyone with a damaged pulp experiencing excruciating pain, discomfort, and sensitivity must consult a dentist and determine if the process will help them get relief.
How Much Do RCTs Cost?
The cost of RCT can vary based on different factors but getting this treatment is worth it. If you consider other alternatives to RCT, you might have to consider extracting a tooth with a crown, which is more expensive and painful.
It is better for you first to get your tooth checked by a reliable dentist and determine if it is the right choice. This will also help you get a better idea of the overall cost of the treatment based on the specifics of your oral health.
Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?
It is not uncommon for people to be worried about getting canal therapy simply because of the presumption that it will be painful. But in reality, when a professional and well-trained dentist performs a tooth extraction after a root canal, it will likely be less painful.
Instead, the pain you need to worry about is leaving the infection untreated for a long which can lead to further complications. You should get over your dental anxiety and treat the issue at the earliest to ensure you experience minimal pain. Asking your dentist for a local anesthetic during the root treatment crown extraction can also help better manage the pain.
Takeaway:
- The RCT procedure effectively cleans the tooth roots to restore your smile.
- Cleaning, filling the root, and applying the crown or filling are all processes in the treatment procedure.
- Root canal treatment costs vary depending on circumstances, but it is worth the investment.
- When a skilled and well-trained dentist performs the RCT procedure, it will likely be less painful.
- Don’t let root canal therapy give you sleepless nights. Connect with our Cane Bay Family Dentistry professionals today to learn more about the treatment.