Root Canal Treatment (RCT) to preserve your badly decayed tooth
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Tooth decay is a common dental problem which urges many people to step into a dental office. Do you agree?
With home remedies like rinsing with salt water, massaging the decayed tooth with garlic, you can get relief from the pain for a while. But if you want a permanent solution to the dental cavity which induces intense pain, just book an appointment with your dentist.
Now the question is, will the dentist treat the infected tooth or remove the tooth?
It depends on the depth of infection and penetration of oral bacteria partnered with the cavity on your teeth. If there is only enamel and dentin degradation due to the cavity, just a dental crown is enough to preserve the decayed tooth.
In contrast, if the oral bacteria badly damages the teeth nerves and other interior parts, there is no option other than extracting the tooth.
The tooth which has nerves infected due to decay can be saved by treating the root canals at the beginning stage of pulp infection.
How will root canal save a decayed tooth?
Root Canal Treatment is a minor surgical procedure with which the decayed pulp is removed from a tooth. Endodontist is the dental health specialist who specializes in treating the pulp chamber and nerves of a tooth.
The treatment begins with numbing the surrounding area of the infected region with anesthetics. It helps the patients to feel no pain during the treatment.
Hence you can stay relax and need not worry about the pain.
Next, your dentist opens the tooth by drilling a hole. The infected pulp chambers along with the nerves are now visible and he/she can extract those from the tooth.
Once the decayed pulp is removed, the process of cleaning the root canal with water or Sodium Hypochlorite is done. As the cleaning process completely eliminates the bacteria and debris in the root canal, it assures the decayed tooth is now free from bacteria and germs.
Then, the extracted pulp is replaced by filling the root canal with a composite material called “Gutta Percha”. This is done prior to sealing the tooth with a dental crown.
Now, you have salvaged and made your decayed tooth alive.
What will happen after the treatment?
To say frankly, you will feel a minor toothache and teeth sensitivity for few days after the treatment.
Don’t scare or suspect the treatment.
It is common to encounter such discomforts until the treated tooth is completely restored. Consult your dentist and get medications to reduce the pain.
Along with toothache, a decayed tooth shows signs like tooth discoloration, swelling gums, abscessed tooth, pimples on the gums to indicate the pulp infection.
Similarly, severe pain in the surrounding areas like jaw around the decayed tooth is also a sign to alert you regarding the infected pulp.
It is wise to get a dental suggestion immediately once you notice any of the mentioned symptoms. Otherwise, your infected tooth may push you to get irreversible dental treatment like tooth extraction to safeguard your dentition.
