How To Restore A Tooth After Root Canal Treatment?

For beginners, it is important to know and understand what exactly the root canal procedure is. Root canal treatment, also known as root canal therapy is a straightforward dental treatment to relieve dental pain and save your teeth. The treatment is undertaken when a patient has an infection or inflammation in the roots of a tooth. During the treatment, an endodontist who is a specialist, specializing in such a treatment, carefully cleans out the pulp inside the tooth, disinfects and shapes the root canal. He/she then places some dental fillings to seal the space.

– Tooth Pain

Tooth pain is one of the most obvious things that you may need to undergo root canal treatment. Pain that may require tooth canal treatment is different from other tooth pains since it gets worse when biting down, eating or when you apply any pressure. However, you should note that tooth pain does not always symbolize the need of root canal. In fact, in some instances, a tooth that requires root canal may not even hurt. Though when you are experiencing some pain in your tooth, it might be a tale-tell sign that you might require the procedure. Visit your dentist, he/she will be able to determine if your kind of pain require a root canal.

– Swelling and Gum Tenderness

Swelling and gum tenderness may not always indicate the need for a root canal. However, when it is associated with some pain, it might be a sign that your tooth requires root canal therapy. Swelling can occur in different types. Sometimes the gums may seem normal, but they have some tenderness, and other times it might be an obvious lump that can be easily felt or seen. Irrespective of the type of your swelling visit your dentist to determine if you need a root canal.

– General Feeling of Illness

Tender or swollen lymph nodes, fever and a general feeling of illness may be an indicator that you need a root canal therapy. This is especially true when these warning signs are associated with other signs such as tender and swollen gums. If you’re facing any of the above warning signs, make sure you have informed your dentist as soon as possible. Also, try your best and desist from diagnosing yourself.

– Sensitivity

A majority of people in Australia are suffering from sensitive teeth. Just because you have sensitive teeth does not necessarily mean that you require root canal treatment. However, people that their sensitivity does not go away even after the hot or cold element is removed may require root canal treatment.

Root canal therapy involves several steps to restore a deeply infected tooth. The entire procedure can take place over one or two dental visits. The number of visits you will need to get the entire job done depends on the position of the tooth being treated as well as the number of teeth to be treated.

Root canal therapy for front teeth tends to be more straightforward since they are easier to access and their canals are generally wider and straighter. This means that filling a tooth located on the front part of the mouth is easier to complete compared to a tooth located at the back of the mouth. However, the treatment might slightly vary depending on the clinic, but the steps involved are generally the same. Here are some of the steps involved:
– X-ray and Anaesthesia

The dentist will start by taking the x-ray of the root to be treated to determine its structure, signs of infections to the surrounding bone and the extent of infection. The x-rays determine the extent of the dental work required for the procedure. After the x-rays, the dentist will inject you with some local anaesthesia to numb the area before commencing with the actual treatment. The type of anaesthesia to be used depends on the level of your anxiety. In case the nerves are already dead, then the dentist may fail to use anaesthesia. However, most dentists prefer using it to their patients to kill any pain or discomfort that may arise during the procedure.

– Nerve Extraction

After the anaesthesia has kicked in, your dentist will then use a rubber sheet separate the tooth from the rest of the mouth.This normally serves three purposes. First, it protects the tooth from any bacterial infections from the tooth. Second, it protects you from swallowing and chocking from any debris or tools that the dentist may fall into your mouth. Lastly, it allows you to swallow in the normal way during the procedure. It is possible for the dentist to complete this procedure without necessarily using a dam. However, according to the Australian Dental Association, a dental dam also contributes to the success of the procedure.

Using a drill, the dentist will then make a hole on top of the tooth or at the back of the front tooth. This will help the dentist access the root system and the pulp chamber. He/she will then use some tiny little files to clear away any dead nerve tissues and pulp from inside the tooth root. Root canals are often curved and thin, so it might take the dentist sometime before he can access and remove all the dead tissues. Often, they use some bright lighting and microscope to help them see right inside the tooth. In case you have an abscess at the end of your tooth, this is the point where your dentist will drain it. Removing the dead tissue from a tooth may take some few hours, especially for a tooth with several roots.

– Cleaning

Next, the dentist will thoroughly clean the root using some clean water and an antibacterial solution. Cleaning might also be done several times during the filling process as well. The dentist will use a syringe to help him squirt some water into the tooth and pull it back out. He/she will repeat this process several times until he/she ensures that the root is clean and free from any infections. If your tooth is too complex and cannot be completed using a single visit, the dentist will fill the place using some antibacterial solution and then fill it using a temporary filling. This will help protect the tooth between the visits.

– Root Filling

Once all the above processes have been handled, it is now time to fill the canals. Usually, this is performed with the help of a thermoplastic material that can be softened by heat to fit the exact shape of the root canal chamber. Your dentist will insert some thin cones into the canal and then use some heat to compress them and ensure complete filling. During this step, it is important for the dentist to ensure that the canal completely fills. Otherwise, the risk of becoming re-infected may be high. Once the root is filled, the dentist will fill the remaining space just like a normal filling. This will add a protective layer to prevent any infection from re-occurring.

– Crowning (Optional)

After a root canal treatment, the treated tooth is usually fragile. Due to this, your dentist might recommend that you try using a dental crown. A crown is a protective layer worn over a tooth made of metal or porcelain. It helps in covering the entire tooth to protect it from any further damage. For the crown to be fixed properly, your dentist will have to remove some of the enamel from the tooth. Once the crown is fixed, it will function and feel just like a normal tooth. However, your dentist might have to wait for some few weeks before placing a crown on your tooth. This will help in ensuring that the infection does not re-occur.

Root canal procedure is a dental procedure done as a last resort to save the tooth from extraction. Thus, the procedure is only done when the patient is suffering from agonising pain that has its origin from the pulp. However, once the entire treatment is over, a majority of people often wonder what measures they should undertake to restore their tooth to normal functioning. Here are a number of things that you can do to restore a tooth after root canal treatment.

Traditionally, root canal procedure was extremely painful. This is the reason why most people dreaded undertaking the procedure and thus avoided taking up the required treatment. Today, the dentist has come up with some new methods that can help reduce the amount of pain you experience during the procedure. Before the process begins, the dentist will first apply anaesthesia as mentioned above. Although you might still feel some pressure while cleaning, you shouldn’t feel any pain during the actual procedure.

After the procedure, the local anaesthesia will start wearing off. As this happens, you will start feeling some mild pain and sensitivity. While it might be uncomfortable, the pain is only meant to last for some few days. It is important that you cease from taking any foods or drinks for at least some few hours after the treatment or at least the numbness wears off. To manage the pain after the procedure, you can take some over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.

If you still experience pain even after taking the painkillers or you experience any other side effects, you should contact your dentist immediately. This may be a sign of an unsuccessful root canal procedure, or it might signify that you need additional dental care. Also, you might consider undertaking meant to relieve stress as pain management method. Such activities include yoga, meditation and tai chi.