Root canal therapy is a procedure where the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay, infection, or other damage. In order to save the tooth from being extracted, the pulp inside the tooth is removed and replaced with a special mix of dental materials. This procedure can restore teeth to their full function.
A root canal is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Patients often think that extracting (pulling) a tooth is the solution, but it’s not. It’s actually more costly and can cause more problems for adjacent teeth. Generally, a root canal lasts a lifetime, but occasionally, it needs to be retreated because of new infections.
Root canal therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that uses endodontic techniques to save the natural tooth structure.
Below are some of the situations when you may need root canal therapy:
- Severe pain
- Tooth swelling
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Bad breath from the infection.
- Tenderness around the area of the tooth
If you have any of the above symptoms, see your dentist as soon as possible.
FAQs Related to Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a type of dental treatment used to save a tooth that has been damaged by decay or infection. The goal of the procedure is to clean out the infected or damaged pulp, while also protecting the tooth from future damage.
The root canal therapy procedure involves removing the damaged or infected tissue from inside the tooth, cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth, and then filling and sealing the tooth. Root canal therapy can be used to treat a tooth that has been cracked, chipped, or broken; a tooth that has been damaged by decay; or a tooth that is infected.
This treatment is usually performed by an endodontist, which is a dentist who specializes in this type of procedure. The procedure itself can be divided into three main steps: cleaning, shaping, and filling.
Root canal therapy is usually not painful. The procedure involves numbing the area around the tooth before removing the infected tissue.
In fact, most people say they feel relief after the procedure is over. However, some people may experience mild discomfort during the procedure. If you have any concerns about pain, be sure to discuss them with your dentist before the procedure.
Yes, most insurance policies cover root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy usually takes one or two visits to the dentist, and the procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
