Getting to the Root of It
For most people, hearing the word root canal sends chills down their spine. To most, root canals and extreme pain are synonymous. In all reality, the pain leading up the point when someone finally succumbs to going to the Dentist to get help is the worst toothache pain that one will feel.
The actual procedure can be compared to the feeling of getting a simple filling done most of the time.
So, What Is A Root Canal Then?
In order to really understand why the procedure got such a bad rep for being painful, one first needs to know what exactly requires a tooth to need a root canal in the first place. The bottom line is, every tooth has a nerve that keeps the tooth alive, just like every other part of our bodies. For whatever reason, if that nerve becomes irritated or inflamed, the only sense you can feel is pain. Unlike other parts of our body, however, if the nerve in your tooth begins to swell from inflammation, there is nowhere for it to go, which causes an intense pressure, or a toothache.
Some of the more common reasons for a nerve to become irritated or inflamed include:
Trauma to a tooth, causing it to die. Ex: a blow to the face, falling and hitting your front teeth on the ground, etc.
Deep decay in the tooth that allows for bacteria to get down into the nerve.
Multiple dental procedures on the same tooth, causing it trauma.
A cracked tooth that fractures down into the nerve chamber of the tooth.
After a tooth has been diagnosed with needing root canal therapy (RCT), the treatment is very similar no matter the circumstance. A number of files are used to simply remove the nerve from the nerve canal. The canals are reshaped and cleaned out completely. A filling material called Gutta Percha is fitted to the canal space and sealed into place to keep any future bacteria from entering the tooth again. Multiple x-rays are taken throughout the procedure to confirm that all the nerve has been removed, and the canals have been completely sealed off.
How Long Does The Procedure Take?
Depending on how difficult it is to clean and shape the canals, how many canals a tooth has, and who is doing the procedure, it can take anywhere from 1-4 hours. Procedures may be split into multiple appointments to allow for an antibiotic to fight infection down in a canal before the treatment is completed, or in complicated cases.
How Do I Know What Kind Of Treatment I Need?
First of all, if a tooth ever starts to bother you, see your Dentist right away. There are a couple tell-tale signs that you might need a root canal, while sometimes no symptoms show at all. Some symptoms include:
Pressure sensitivity while eating.
Darkening or discoloration of a tooth.
Hot and cold sensitivity.
A recurring pimple-like infection showing up on the gum tissue.
Swollen face or neck near the infected tooth.
How Do I Avoid a Root Canal?
Unless a tooth needs treatment due to trauma, most root canals can be completely avoided. Decay that has progressed far enough into the tooth that it reaches the nerve is one of the most common causes.
Keeping current with your dental exams can almost always prevent teeth from needing extensive treatment due to decay. Dental x-rays are the number one way to detect decay. Detecting and filling small cavities will completely prevent deep decay.
If a tooth is found to need root canal therapy and you are unable to do the procedure, antibiotics can be given for the infection to allow a little time. However, after the antibiotics are gone, the tooth will begin to hurt again. The only other option to avoid a root canal is tooth extraction.
We know dental anxiety is a real thing. At Whitehaven Dental, nitrous is always free. There is no need to suffer in silence. Our goal is to make your appointment as care-free as possible. Let Dr. Ripplinger know if you would like nitrous during your appointment!