Who Needs Root Canal Therapy? Procedure, Costs, and Complications
Root canal therapy is a dental treatment that removes an infection from inside an extensively damaged tooth. It is also known as endodontic therapy. The procedure is done in the pulp of the tooth, which is the root canal.
When tooth decay reaches a tooth nerve tissue, the pulp starts to disintegrate, and bacteria increase across the tissue. The accumulation of bacteria, decayed tissue causes an infection characterized by pus-filled areas at the roots’ edge. A condition on the root can extend to the following:
- Inflammation that reaches the face, neck, and head.
- Liquid leakage from the tooth to the gums
- Bone loss around the decayed tooth
When Do I Need a Root Canal?
Consult a dentist near you if you observe the following symptoms:
- Persistent tooth sensitivity to cold or heat
- Severe pain when you chew
- Knots on your gums
- Chipped or fractured teeth
- Engorged and painful gums
- Blackened gums
- Intense decay
What Is The Procedure?
Root Canal Treatment near you involves three steps spread within three visits. The dentist will examine your oral health before the actual procedure to find out the extent of the damage. Afterward, the root canal will be cleaned. Everything in the root socket is taken out. You’ll receive an anesthetic to numb the area. The dentist will then drill a tiny hole on the tooth’s surface and extract all the dead tissue. They use small files to access it.
Next, the Sauk Rapids dentist at Smile City Dental will clean, shape, and neutralize the cavity using the files and irrigation solution. The tooth will then get a rubber-like material filled to the brim then closed off using a bonding sealant permanently. After they remove the nerve tissue, the tooth is deemed dead, and the infection will be cured. You won’t be in pain anymore.
The procedure leaves the tooth weaker than its former natural state. The pulp holds blood vessels that nourish the tooth. Without it, the tooth relies on the ligament. As time passes by, the tooth will lose its flexibility and become easier to crack.
The third visit consists of fitting a filling or crown to reinforce the tooth. Treatment may be prolonged if the tooth has, bent canal or a wide-spread infection.
Is It Painful?
Root canal therapy is perceived to be very painful but is a pain-relieving treatment instead. If a well-trained dental surgeon performs the treatment, it should be painless with a little discomfort. The pain that patients feel comes from the infection representations like swelling and not from the treatment. The therapy helps to get rid of the pain. Your dental surgeon will minimize the pain by numbing the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthesia.
To be on the lookout for complications, you should know how much pain is expected after the treatment. Some tenderness is normal. It should only last for a few hours. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may be enough to relieve it. Besides, the Waite Park dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection.
Possible Complications
This treatment is most successful with the likelihood of a new infection caused by:
- Leaving one of the unexpected multi-canals in a tooth uncleaned
- The disintegration of the rubber sealing material
- An unknown crack in the tooth
Re-treatment can save the tooth. However, most cases of re-infection are solved by tooth extraction. To reduce the chances of a root canal treatment failure, avoid chewing with the tooth until the procedure is done.
How Do I Prevent a Root Canal?
The primary reason for pulp damage is decay caused by poor dental hygiene. Practice the following:
- Brushing and flossing
- Attending routine dental check-ups
So, how much does root canal therapy cost? Root canal therapy costs differ. It is less costly than having a tooth extracted and replaced with a crown or bridge. The price also depends on how severe the infection was and the location of the tooth. Endodontists charge a higher fee than general dentists. Most dental insurance policies will cover the cost to some extend.
Book an appointment with us for a root canal in St. Cloud, MN, today. Our team at Smile City Dental will meet all your dental treatment needs.