How Is Root Canal Treatment Done?

Instead of extracting a severely damaged or infected tooth, a root canal can save it. The cleaning of the canals inside a tooth’s root is where the term “root canal” originates. Treatments for root canals were frequently painful decades ago. Most people experience little to no pain during a root canal thanks to advancements in dentistry and local anesthetics.

In actuality, having a decaying tooth is probably more painful to live with. Alternatives to a root canal include removing the damaged tooth, forgoing additional care, or substituting a dental implant, bridge, or removable partial denture in place of the lost tooth. Visit a dentist in Plymouth, MA, today.

How is root canal treatment done?

Usually, a general dentist or an endodontist performs a root canal. Typically, a root canal requires one or two appointments, but occasionally, more visits are needed because some teeth are challenging to treat. 

To determine the extent of the damage, you first undergo dental X-rays. Additionally, a local anesthetic is administered to you to lessen pain during the process. Next, a dental dam, a sheet that resembles rubber, is inserted into your mouth to surround the tooth and keep it saliva-free, clean, and safe. The pulp chamber is accessed by cutting a hole through the tooth’s crown after the decay has been removed. The diseased or infected pulp is extracted with the use of tiny dental instruments.

Following the removal of the diseased pulp, the pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned and flushed. It may be necessary to enlarge and modify the root canals to provide better access for filling. The root canals are dried and cleared of any infection before being permanently filled. To treat any disease, medication may occasionally be injected into the pulp chamber and root canals. 

You might require a prescription for antibiotics if the infection has extended outside of the tooth. A temporary filling is inserted into the crown following root canal therapy in order to preserve the tooth and block saliva and debris. Please wait until the tooth has received permanent treatment and restoration before biting or chewing on it.

It is time to fill the tooth’s interior, including the root canals and empty pulp chamber, after cleaning and drying. For this step, you might not require an additional anesthetic. In order to gain access to the interior of the tooth, any temporary filling you may have had will be taken out. To ensure that the root canals are shielded from saliva, a dental filling is placed after the tooth has been filled with sealer paste and rubber compound.

Restoring your tooth is the last step in a root canal. Usually heavily filled or weak from extensive decay, the tooth needs to be restored to its natural state and shielded from further harm. This is typically accomplished by covering your tooth with a crown, an artificial tooth that looks real.