A root canal is a standard treatment for repairing damaged tissue inside a tooth. Also called endodontic treatment, the stages of root canal treatment are straightforward. If you are booked in or are considering a root canal, then understanding the stages of root canal treatment will help you feel at ease and clear about the process.
A root canal treatment may be necessary when the inside of a tooth is damaged, either through physical trauma or infection. There are multiple benefits to choosing a root canal over a complete extraction of the damaged tooth. The main advantage is that you get to keep your natural tooth which maintains your oral and dental health.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal Treatment?
If one or more of your teeth sustain significant damage to the soft tissue (dental pulp) inside of the tooth, then you may need a root canal.
Damage to the dental pulp may happen from physical trauma like a hard impact, or it may be from decay or a tooth infection that has made its way inside of the tooth.
Signs to watch out for when you may need a root canal treatment include:
- A severe toothache
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Darkening of the tooth
- Swollen and sore gums
- When the tooth becomes loose
- Pus around the infected tooth
- Facial swelling, or swelling on the neck
What Happens If I Ignore It?
Ignoring a severely infected or damaged tooth that needs a dentist’s attention will only worsen the problem.
For starters, a tooth damaged through physical trauma, with damage to the dental pulp, can quickly become infected. If the dental pulp inside of the tooth becomes infected and you ignore it, it can lead to:
- The infection spreading to other areas within the mouth
- Bone loss and damage to the bone structures surrounding the infected tooth
- Loss of the tooth
As dentists, our priority is to try and save your natural tooth to avoid any potential complications or side effects caused by total tooth removal.
Does Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
Thanks to modern medicine, the root canal procedure is not painful. Modern dentistry has also perfected the different stages of root canal treatment to ensure as little pain as possible.
Decades ago, root canals were known to be painful, and the general media has also popularized this idea. This does not accurately reflect root canal procedures today, so you can rest assured that local anesthesia is more than enough.
During each stage of root canal treatment, you won’t feel any more discomfort than you would from a regular filling procedure. Some patients may experience a little pain for a few days after the procedure, but this is not always the case.
What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?
Below is an outline of each of the stages of root canal treatment.
X-Rays
Your dentist will begin by taking X-rays of the tooth to see the shape of the root canals. The dentist will also check to see if an infection has travelled to other surrounding areas, such as the underlying bone.
Placing A Rubber Dam Over the Tooth
Your dentist will place a rubber sheet, also called a rubber dam, over the tooth to prevent contaminating other parts of the mouth if an infection is present.
Local Anesthesia
At this point, the dentist will begin applying numbing anesthesia to the area around the tooth.
Removal of the Dental Pulp
Once the area is numb, a small hole is drilled into the tooth, allowing the dentist to remove the damaged dental pulp inside the canals. Once the pulp is gone, the dentist may need to shape the canal before disinfecting it.
The Filling Stage
The dentist fills the empty space in the dental canals with a barrier material to prevent future infections. They may also add additional supports to strengthen the tooth. Finally, they will fill the hole and, if necessary, place a new crown over the top.
How Long Does Root Canal Recovery Take?
It doesn’t take long to recover from a root canal treatment. After just a few days, you will feel back to normal. If you experience inflammation or pain for a few days after, you can take over-the-counter medication for relief.
Practicing effective oral hygiene after the treatment is essential for the healing process. If pain or discomfort continues for longer than a few days, contact your dentist for a follow-up.
Want to Learn More About the Stages of Root Canal Treatments?
Root canal treatments are standard procedures that save a tooth from infection or injury. They are no more uncomfortable than a routine filling procedure and have a relatively short recovery period of just a few days.
At Boon Dental, we pride ourselves on our quality of service and for being a centre for dental information. For more information on root canals, please look at our blog, or contact us to speak directly with a team member.
