If you’ve never gone into the dentist’s for a root canal before, you probably have no idea what to expect. Fortunately, they’re not quite as scary as they’re made out to be. Here are a few things you can expect from a root canal.
Why It Is Done
The pulp of a tooth is a combination of soft tissues and nerves in the center of the tooth that is housed in a chamber that extends through the roots of the teeth into the surrounding bone structure. When the pulp becomes inflamed, infected, or dies, sometimes it becomes necessary to remove the pulp and seal the canals and chamber to prevent the infection from spreading.
Symptoms
The most common symptom signaling you might need a root canal is pain. If the tooth is still alive, it will be extremely sensitive to heat or cold. The tooth will hurt spontaneously as well, even when you aren’t eating or drinking anything. If the tooth is dead, you will feel pain when you put any kind of pressure on the tooth.
Deep cavities are another sign that you may need a root canal, as are fractures or repeated dental procedures on the same tooth.
Procedure
• When you’re ready to have the root canal done, the dentist will numb your gums, teeth, tongue, and skin all around the affected tooth.
• The dentist might then separate the decaying tooth from the surrounding teeth with a sheet of rubber.
• The pulp will then be removed from the tooth, and the pulp chamber will be filled with a combination of medicine and filling materials.
• After the chamber has been filled, a permanent crown (a cap) will be placed over the tooth.
Pain
There will be no pain during the actual procedure, thanks to the anesthetics. Some dental offices like Forest Lawn Dental Centre offer the option of sedation for patients that experience anxiety or fear.
Like with any dental procedure, it will take some time for the anesthetic to wear off. Your lips and gums will remain numb for a few hours, after which you may feel some tenderness or throbbing around the new root canal. You can treat this pain with over-the-counter pain killers like Tylenol or ibuprofen, or if you ask, your dentist or doctor will be able to prescribe you some stronger medications.
The pain should only last for a day or two after the procedure. If the pain lasts longer than that, contact your dentist.
Risks
Like with any medical procedure, there are always risks. Once a tooth has had a root canal, it is more prone to fracture. It can also become re-infected if the sealing materials degrade over time or the patient does not practice good oral hygiene. If it does become infected, it can usually be treated simply with another root canal procedure.
Additionally, if your tooth has become infected and allowed bacteria to enter your bloodstream, your doctor may have you take antibiotics in addition to the root canal.
Over time, crowns may become loose. If you experience any problems with your crown, contact a dentist immediately to get it resolved.
Root canals have a reputation of being scary, painful treatments, but they actually provide relief from the pain of a decayed or dying tooth. The more you know about root canals before you set foot in the office, the easier it will be to focus on the benefits and less about the horror stories you’ve heard about the procedure.
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