What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root Canal Treatment (RCT) is needed when blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as pulp of tooth) is infected because of decay (cavity) or trauma.
Why is RCT needed?
If the pulp of the tooth became infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth. This may eventually lead to an abscess. An abscess is an inflamed area in which pus collects and can cause swelling of the tissues around the tooth. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.
How is root canal treatment performed?
During RCT, local anesthesia is first given to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues to make it comfortable for the patient. This may not be needed if everything inside is already dead or the X-ray shows a lesion at the apex. The infected pulp tissue from inside the tooth is then removed and inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned to remove all the infection and dead tissue. This might require more than one appointments depending upon the amount of infection present. Upon complete sterilization of the canals, filling is done to restore the canal structure. Antibiotics may be prescribed to aid in the infection. A temporary filling is placed at the crown opening. Finally, during a subsequent appointment, a crown is placed over the tooth.
Root canal therapy
Is it a painful procedure?
NO! It is done under local anesthesia i.e. also for the first visit. Subsequent visit doesn’t require even local anesthesia.
How long will the restored tooth last?
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth will remain healthy. But generally speaking, the tooth becomes dehydrated and weak.
Am I a candidate for RCT?
If you have even one of these symptoms then we will advise you after proper diagnosis to opt for RCT.
Common Symptoms requiring an RCT:
- Severe tooth pain, typically relieved by cold water and increases with the intake of hot liquids.
- Pain worsens when you lie down and reduces when you sit up.
- Pain stays for a long time after consuming cold things.
- Swelling around the tooth.
- Constant tooth pain.
- Pain when chewing.
- Tooth pain referred to head and ears as well.
- Deep cavity (carious) in tooth.
- Severe attrition of tooth.
- Fractured tooth may be due to trauma.
How many visits does it take to finish the procedure?
Now a day’s even single sitting RCTs are done but it solely depends upon the extent of infection and it may take 3-4 visits of 15 min duration.
How do I ensure that I get a good quality treatment for RCT, and what’s the failure rate?
A good treatment, like all medical procedures has a failure rate of 2-5%, but a bad treatment or re-treatment can increase the failure rate upto 30%.
To ensure a scientifically a good treatment esnsure that the following tools are used while doing a RCT.
- ROOT-ZX and TRI-Auto-Zx, We were the first buyers of this wizard of Root Canal Treatment, known as a Gold Standard for RCT and we possess 7 of them. (http://www.morita.com/usa/cms/website.php?id=/en/products/dental/endodontic_systems/dentaport_zx.html)
- Diagnodent: To clean decay/caries completely to ensure prevention of recurrence of infection. We are the first and perhaps the only buyers of seven of them in the country.( http://www.kavousa.com/US/DIAGNOdent/Classic.aspx)
- ENDOX: It burns out and vaporizes any remnants deep into the crevices and anastomoses of roots, where nothing can reach. We may be the only one’s with this amazing device in the country. (http://www.endox.com/)
- Lightspeed system: Although costly, this is the best system to cleanse and shape the canals, -A Gold Standard.(https://www.kerrdental.com/kerr-endodontics/lightspeed-lsx-files-niti-endo-files-shape)
- Microscope.
- Soft Laser: Kills almost all bacteria, instantaneously. (http://www.sirona.com/en/products/instruments/sirolaser-advance-xtend/)
- Therma-Prep.(https://www.dentsply.co.uk/Products/Endodontics/Equipment/ThermaPrep-2.aspx)
- Obtura and System B. (http://www.obtura.com/in/)
- Advanced motorized Irrigation sysyems.
- Rubber Dam.
- 3D-Radiology: we are the first and only ones to have in house 3D Radiology machine from KODAK to do complex problem solving in Root Canals.
- Multi-Tasking System: For taking out most broken instruments with the help of Microscope.