Are you looking for cosmetic dentistry in sugar land? Worry not because Dr. Amir Hassan at colony dental is ready to help. We provide our patients with high-quality services out of love and care. We provide an extensive range of services including root canal treatment.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
It is a dental procedure used to repair or save a decayed or infected tooth. it involves removal, cleaning, and thereafter sealing of the pulp and nerve of the tooth. Without a root canal, the tissue around the decaying tooth can become infected and develop abscesses, which puts your overall health at great risk.
Tooth Structure
To understand how root canal treatment works, you first need to understand the structure of the tooth. The term root canal is actually used to describe the natural cavity within the inside of a tooth. Under the white enamel, is a hard layer called dentine and further inside is the soft tissue we call the pulp. The pulp is made up of blood vessels, nerves, connective tissues. It extends from the crown of the tooth into the roots where it connects to the tissues around the root.
The pulp plays a vital role in the growth and development of a tooth. however, once a tooth is fully matured, it can do well without the pulp because the surrounding tissues will continue to nourish it.
The Root Canal Treatment Procedure
A root canal treatment is also referred to as endodontic treatment. It is usually performed in one or two dental visits depending on the severity. First, our dentist will examine the affected tooth and take x-rays to get a better picture of what the situation is like. A local anesthetic will then be administered and the area around the tooth will go numb. A small protective sheet called a dental dam will be placed over the tooth to keep it clean and dry of saliva during the procedure.
A dentist will proceed to open up the crown and clean out the entire pulp using a series of root canal files and then shape the space left for filling. During cleaning, water, or sodium hypochlorite may occasionally be used to flush away the pulp debris. Space will be filled with a biocompatible material such as gutta-percha. If there is no other issue, we may choose to seal the tooth on the same day. However, if you need to be treated for infections, a temporary filling will be used to keep contaminants away as we wait for you to get better and have the tooth permanently sealed. After sealing the pulp cavity, other restoration procedures may need to be done on the crown of the tooth too.
Why is the Pulp Removed?
Once the nerve tissue of the teeth is damaged, it slowly dies away and this causes bacteria to multiply within the pulp cavity. If left untreated the bacteria can spread to the surrounding tissue and develop to an abscess or infection. This may consequently affect other areas around the mouth such as the face, neck, or head. It can also cause bone loss to occur around the tip of the root. So to prevent all these greater problems, it is just easier to remove the pulp cavity, since the tooth can well survive without it anyway.
How Much Pain to Expect After A Root Canal Treatment?
It is abnormal for the pain to last for a long time. You will experience severe pain for a while because the tissue around the gums remains swollen since the dentist has removed a nerve root from the tooth hence the area gets inflamed. The nerve endings can also cause discomfort.in most cases, this sensitivity and discomfort should go away after a few days only. If it does not get better it is best to revisit the dentist for an evaluation.
How to Manage Root Canal Pain At Home?
You can use painkillers to help relieve the pain. Make sure to carefully follow the instructions from your dentist. Also, avoid chewing or biting by using the affected tooth until the final restoration has been completed. Practice good oral hygiene.
If you are looking for root canal treatment at Sugar land TX feel free to contact us.