Root canal treatment: what it is, and why it’s nothing to fear
When a root canal is needed, what happens during treatment, what recovery feels like, and why saving your natural tooth is usually the best option.
Few dental treatments have a worse reputation than the root canal, and few deserve it less. With modern techniques and good anesthesia, most patients say a root canal feels much like having a filling. More importantly, it relieves the pain of an infected tooth and lets you keep your natural tooth.
When is a root canal needed?
Inside every tooth, beneath the enamel and dentin, is the pulp: soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. When deep decay, a crack or an injury lets bacteria reach the pulp, it can become inflamed or infected. The pulp can’t heal on its own, and an infection can spread to the bone around the root.
Signs that the pulp may be affected include:
- A severe or throbbing toothache, especially one that wakes you at night.
- Pain that lingers after hot or cold.
- Pain when biting or chewing.
- Swelling of the gum or face, or a pimple-like bump on the gum.
- A tooth that has darkened after an injury.
Sometimes there are no symptoms at all, and the problem is found on an X-ray. If you have a toothache, read what it can mean and how to ease it.
What happens during treatment
- Numbing. We numb the tooth and surrounding area thoroughly.
- Cleaning out the pulp. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth, and the infected or inflamed pulp is removed from the canals inside the roots.
- Shaping and disinfecting. The canals are cleaned, shaped and disinfected.
- Filling and sealing. The canals are filled with a biocompatible material and sealed to keep bacteria out.
Treatment usually takes one or two visits.
After a root canal
It is normal for the tooth to feel tender for a few days, and over-the-counter pain relievers usually manage this well. Avoid chewing hard foods on that side until the tooth is fully restored.
A tooth that has had a root canal can become more brittle, especially a back tooth. In many cases we recommend a crown to protect it and restore full strength.
Why save the tooth?
The alternative to a root canal is usually extraction. Removing a tooth may seem simpler, but the gap then needs to be filled with an implant, bridge or denture to keep the neighboring teeth from shifting. A tooth saved with a root canal and properly restored has a very high success rate and can last a lifetime with good care.
Comfortable, careful treatment
If you have a painful tooth or have been told you may need a root canal, we’ll explain what we see and your options, and keep you comfortable at every step. Learn more about Root Canals at SmileNY Dental, or contact us.