Are you worried about a persistent toothache? You are not alone. Many individuals suffer from the pain of an infected tooth pulp, but modern dentistry can help by performing a root canal. Far from the intimidating procedure of the past, root canals today are simple, nearly pain-free, and help you keep your natural tooth. They prevent further dental complications and save your smile. The treatment removes infected parts, cleans the affected area, and returns the tooth to normal.
When you have tooth pain or sensitivity, you should seek help. If you need root canal treatment done by experts with a compassionate approach, contact Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry. We can help you restore your smile and eliminate any dental pain. The information below breaks down what a root canal is to help you better understand the procedure.
Reasons Why You Will Need a Root Canal Treatment
It helps to understand the detailed structure of your tooth first if you want to know why root canals are needed. A tooth has several layers, specifically, the outer enamel, softer dentin, and the inner pulp. The pulp is a significant soft tissue of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, starting at the crown and going into the roots.
If the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, commonly because of deep decay, repeated dental procedures, a cracked or chipped tooth, or trauma, it can create serious problems. If the infection penetrates the pulp and is not treated, bacteria can enter the bone next to the tooth, resulting in a dental abscess.
Pain and sensitivity are usually the main signs that a root canal is needed. You may feel continuous pain that varies from slight to strong, extending to your jaw, ear, or temple. It could become more noticeable when lying down or applying pressure to the area. When there is increased sensitivity to hot or cold, it lingers long afterthe hot or cold item has been removed.
Furthermore, you could notice swelling and tenderness in the gums next to the affected tooth. You might see a little pimple-like bump, a fistula, a sign of pus from the infection. Sometimes, the tooth will darken compared to its neighbors due to the dead pulp. If you have a few of these symptoms, you should see a dentist immediately.
Your dentist will check your tooth by taking X-rays to determine the extent of the damage and infection. They might check pulp vitality using different stimuli, like cold or electric, and perform a percussion test by gently tapping the tooth to determine if you need a root canal.
How a Root Canal is Carried Out
Learning about the procedure before having a root canal may ease any fears. It may appear complicated, but the process is highly refined and designed to help preserve your natural teeth. Before the treatment, the dentist will take new X-rays to ensure they understand your tooth’s internal structure. The procedure begins with administering local anesthesia before proceeding. So, before you receive the treatment, your dentist will take you through the process to ensure you feel comfortable.
Let us look at the subsequent steps of the procedure:
Dental Dam Placement
A thin, rubber dam is carefully put over the tooth that needs treatment. This is necessary because it stops the tooth from becoming wet with saliva or coming into contact with bacteria, which would increase the risk of infection while being treated.
The barrier also stops any tiny tools or fluids used for irrigation during the procedure from accidentally being swallowed.
Accessing the Pulp Chamber
With a small dental drill, your dentist will create a tiny hole in the biting surface of the tooth or from the back of a front tooth to get to the pulp chamber where the pulp is infected. The opening gives direct access to the root canals, which start in the pulp chamber and continue into the roots. Proper tools are used to minimize the amount of healthy tooth tissue dentists will remove.
Cleaning and Shaping The Root Canals
Both manual and rotary instruments, powered by a small motor, which is tiny and flexible, are carefully used to remove the infected and inflamed pulp from the root canals and pulp chamber. These instruments are very detailed and made for navigating the intricate curves of the canals.
Throughout this step, irrigation solutions are flushed through the canals using sodium hypochlorite. They are essential for:
- Washing away debris
- Disinfecting the canals
- Dissolving leftover tissue
All these make the area clean and safe from bacteria.
After cleaning and shaping the tooth, the dentist can easily apply the filling.
Filling the Root Canals
Rubber-like gutta-percha is used to fill the now-empty root canals. The biocompatible material is carefully placed in the canals and usually heated to make it flow into all the spaces and seal the tooth securely. Dental sealer and gutta-percha create an even more secure seal that stops bacteria from returning to the canal system. This part of the treatment helps avoid reinfection and maintain the proper health of the tooth.
Sealing the Tooth
When the canals are filled, the hole in the top of the tooth is closed with a seal. Sometimes, a temporary filling is put on the tooth to protect it until a permanent restoration, like a crown, can be done. A strong base for the final restoration can be formed at this stage by permanently building up the core.
While most root canals can be finished in one appointment, when the infection is severe or the procedure is complex, complete cleaning may take more than one visit. This procedure requires great care and attention to detail to save your tooth and restore its functionality.
Managing Pain and Anxiety During the Root Canal Procedure
Many people believe that root canals are always very painful. Outdated practices usually lead to this myth, often making people anxious about visiting the dentist. Undergoing a root canal is generally as painless as having a dental filling, and it is meant to stop the intense pain caused by an infected tooth. Usually, the discomfort comes from the infection, not the treatment process.
Your dentist will use a numbing agent to free the tooth and the area around it from pain. Many local anesthetics are available. Your dentist will pick the most suitable option. This anesthesia makes the tooth numb and painless during the root canal procedure. There might be sensations or vibrations, but you will not experience sharp pain.
It is typical to feel some discomfort after the root canal procedure. It is usually mild and goes away quickly, like any major dental procedure. Your mouth and the area around your newly placed tooth might feel sensitive or sore, mainly while chewing. Usually, people can handle this discomfort by taking pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If your dentist believes you need stronger medication, they could prescribe it, although this is less common. Though the intensity and length of post-procedure pain differ among people, it usually subsides within a few days.
People who experience dental anxiety could find the idea of a root canal very frightening. Letting your dentist know about your fears and concerns is very important. Many dentists provide ways to manage dental anxiety, like deep breathing, distracting yourself with music, or using sedation. These methods include nitrous oxide and oral sedation to make you feel calmer and more comfortable throughout your appointment. Your comfort should come first. Talking openly with your dentist will help you have a good visit.
Root Canal Recovery and Aftercare
After the procedure, you should know what will happen during your recovery to achieve a smooth and successful healing.
Following your visit, the anesthesia’s numbing effect will last several hours. After the anesthetic wears away, some minor discomfort, sensitivity, or tenderness when biting could occur, but this should go away in a few days as your body heals. The tooth worked on may seem different for a short while, but this feeling should disappear once fully healed.
While recovering, you must make some changes to your diet first. Stick to soft foods for a few days because this helps the treated tooth heal without extra stress, especially if a temporary filling has been placed. Good food choices include:
- Soups
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Smoothies
- Soft-cooked vegetables
You should avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods and chew on the other side until your permanent crown is in place.
Keep your teeth and gums very clean to stop the infection and aid in your recovery. You should gently brush and floss around the treated tooth immediately after the procedure. Do not dislodge the temporary filling or rinse your mouth too vigorously. Depending on your situation, your dentist will explain how to keep the area clean. For mild pain, ibuprofen or acetaminophen usually helps. Call your dentist if the pain, swelling, or other symptoms persist or worsen. This could indicate a problem.
For your root canal to last long, you must attend the follow-up visit and have the permanent restoration, like dental crowns, placed. The temporary filling after the root canal will last a short time, but is not meant to be used for long. A permanent crown is necessary since a tooth treated with root canal therapy can become fragile over the years because its pulp and part of the tooth were removed. The crown surrounds the entire tooth, giving it strength and preventing it from breaking, allowing it to work normally for years. A temporary crown does not provide enough strength, so neglecting to go for a permanent crown can easily lead to a tooth fracture and possible loss. If you take good care of it, a treated and crowned tooth will not be any different than your natural teeth, and you should keep brushing and flossing regularly.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
The benefits of root canal therapy include:
- The procedure addresses the discomfort from an infection or inflammation in the tooth pulp
- It allows you to save your natural tooth, so you do not need to have it extracted
- It prevents cascading issues from tooth loss, specifically stopping adjacent teeth from shifting, the jawbone from shrinking, and your bite changing.
- A tooth treated successfully will function normally, helping you chew food easily and hold on to your normal biting power.
- It preserves your original look. Thus, your smile does not change its appearance.
- Root canal therapy is often the most affordable way to save a tooth, since it is less costly over time than replacing teeth with dental implants or bridges.
- Research shows that root canal therapy is successful for most people, achieving success rates of 85% to 97%, depending on the situation and the follow-up visits.
The Risks Involved in Root Canal Therapy
The procedure is usually successful and safe, but knowing the uncommon risks and complications is still essential.
If some bacteria are left or the seal weakens over time, there is a risk of recurring infection. Sometimes, a dentist could overlook a tiny or unusually shaped canal, which may cause the infection to continue.
There is also a risk of extremely unusual outcomes, for example, when tools break inside the canal or an accidental hole or perforation is made in the tooth or root during treatment. Even though sensitivity lasting more than a few days is a possible outcome, it is usually not severe.
Removing an infected tooth through extraction gives immediate relief, but can cause the surrounding teeth to shift, which may result in further dental complications. It may cause the jawbone in that area to shrink, which can change the look of your face and make it harder to put in new dental implants.
If you are missing a tooth, you should replace it to preserve your smile and function. This can be done with a dental bridge, which means grinding down adjacent healthy teeth to hold the prosthetic tooth, or with a dental implant, a titanium post inserted surgically and covered with a crown. Even though dental implants are a great choice in the long run, they are more expensive and invasive than saving your natural tooth with a root canal.
The Cost of Root Canal Therapy
The cost of a root canal procedure is a significant concern for many people and varies considerably.
The cost of a root canal depends on several different factors, namely:
- Position of your tooth — Perhaps the most important thing is the tooth’s location in your mouth. A front tooth, like an incisor or canine, often only has one root canal and is less complicated, which makes it cheaper. While premolars usually have one or two canals, molars can have three or more, making them more complex and expensive to treat.
- The difficulty of the case — For example, when canals are curved or calcified, the type of dental professional performing the procedure can affect the price.
- Your geographical location —The cost of the procedure varies depending on the city or region you are in
- Need for dental crowns — Another expense to consider is the dental crown that is needed after a root canal, since it is usually suggested for molars, and can be for premolars.
A proper dental exam is needed to give an exact cost. However, root canal costs usually range between several hundred and more than a thousand dollars.
- Front teeth (incisors or canines), which are usually one-rooted and straightforward, tend to cost between $600 and $1,200
- The cost for premolars (bicuspids) is usually between $700 and $1,400
- Since molars are the most complex, having three or more canals, they are the most pricey, with costs that can go up to $2,000 or more for a single tooth
Before starting any dental work, ask for a detailed quote from your dentist for the final price.
For many people, having dental insurance helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Depending on your coverage and deductibles, dental insurance usually pays for part of a root canal, usually between 50% and 80%. You should contact your insurance company or let your dentist submit a pre-authorization to determine your coverage and how much you must pay.
If you are covered by insurance but still need help with some of the costs or have no insurance, many dental practices allow you to pay over time, using either in-house payment plans or medical credit cards. Some dental discount plans offer lower rates for different procedures. It is essential to understand that choosing an extraction and a replacement, like an implant or bridge, can cost more than simply having a root canal to save your tooth.
Find a Dental Specialist Near Me
Having a root canal procedure can help you keep your teeth safe and preserve how your smile looks. Handling infection and preventing more issues enables you to protect your teeth and avoid expensive replacement procedures. Do not let your past experiences or any pain stop you from having a healthy mouth.
If you require a root canal or are experiencing tooth discomfort, contact Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry. Call us at 818-878-7300 or visit our clinic to schedule a consultation and start your way to a happier smile.