ROOT CANAL TREATMENT-EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

 

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT-EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW

A lot of us actually don’t know what RCT is!

Root canal treatment is always considered as painful and scary.

Do you know whether you need RCT in your tooth or not?

Here’s why you should be concerned about it.

A root canal treatment is an emergency dental procedure and ignorance can make you even lose your tooth.

WHAT IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

STRUCTURE OF TOOTH

‘’Root canal therapy‘’ or endodontic therapy is a dental treatment in which the infection is removed from inside a tooth.

A ‘’root canal’’ is not a treatment, in fact, it is a part of a tooth.

 A tooth consists of two parts crown and roots. The crown and the root canals have tissues present inside called the pulp. The pulp has blood vessels and nerves which protect the tooth by providing nutrients and moisture throughout the bloodstream. The nerves in the pulp sense hot and cold temperatures as pain. The problem arises when this pulp tissue gets infected, so the root cause is the pulp.

Root canal therapy is done to remove the nerves and blood vessels from the pulp of a tooth. RCT is supposed to be very painful, but indeed it’s a pain-relieving treatment.

WHEN DO U NEED RCT

5 SIGNS OF NEED OF RCT

You know when do you need RCT…

When your dentist asks you these questions regarding your problem..

1.Are you having excruciating pain in your tooth occasionally or at night?

2.Do you have any sensitivity in your tooth or teeth on eating hot, cold, sweet foods or drinks?

3.Do you have any pain in chewing food or biting your teeth?

4.Is there any swelling or tenderness in your nearby gums?

5.Is there any discoloration of the tooth?

6. Is there any problem of food impaction?

7.Do you have any chipped or cracked teeth?

If the answer is yes, then it’s time to get an X-ray done and your dentist will decide the extent of your tooth decay. The pain might be due to an infected or inflamed pulp. The infection has spread to the pulp or not, it is decided by the X-ray as well as the clinical symptoms by the dentist. Don’t miss the early signs and symptoms. Early detection is the key to a great treatment plan. The inflammation or infection could be due to many reasons like deep caries, ill fitting dental crowns, failed fillings, cracked or chipped teeth.

HOW IS RCT DONE

PROCEDURE OF RCT

Here’s how your dentist helps you with your problem. After a thorough diagnosis, and analyzing the condition of the tooth with the help of X-rays, your dentist then performs PULPECTOMY. The various steps are

1.Cleaning the root canal

A root canal treatment is a minor surgical procedure in which your dentist numbs the affected area and creates an access hole to remove the decayed tissue. The inflamed/infected pulp, the dead nerves, bacteria, and all other debris that  are present inside the root canal are removed with the help of instruments called files.

 

2.Filling the root canal

The inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected with the irrigating solutions, then filled and sealed.  The patient will no longer feel pain as the tooth is dead now.

 

3. Giving a crown or filling

Then the hole is sealed, either at the same visit or follow-up visit and eventually, a permanent filling or crown may be placed on the tooth. After crown, the tooth functions like a normal tooth.

IS RCT PAINFUL

IS RCT PAINFUL

RCT is a painless procedure. The pain felt during the treatment is due to infection and not from the treatment.

The whole procedure is done under local anesthesia, so you will feel no pain at all during the procedure.

After the treatment, slight tenderness and discomfort are expected which is normal. It is temporary and goes with time. The dentist may prescribe some painkillers along with antibiotics to treat or prevent infection.

Follow your dentist’s instructions carefully.

However, if you feel severe pain or pressure even after a few days, then it is time to call your dentist.

 

PRECAUTIONS DURING AND AFTER RCT

TIPS TO FOLLOW AFTER RCT

Don’t eat immediately after RCT because your gums and sometimes your tongue is somewhat numb. So wait until that numbness goes away.

When we extract the pulp during RCT, the tooth tends to lose its strength and start getting brittle hence it becomes more prone to fracture. Until the crown or filling is complete, a person should avoid hard food and should not chew from that side as there are chances of fracture of the tooth. That is the reason you need a crown i.e. a cap over your tooth to protect it.

Root canals are generally successful, but it’s important to maintain your oral care routine in order to reduce your risk of post-procedure infections or complications.

Proper plaque removal is especially important after a root canal. Follow regular brushing and flossing to help keep the area clean, but if the area feels sensitive be sure to use a soft-bristled brush for post- surgical care.

You can also try soft floss to avoid irritating the area.

ADVANTAGES OF RCT

·      It preserves the natural tooth and eliminates the pain. Nothing functions, as well as a natural tooth so saving a tooth,  is the best option.

·      It prevents the spreading of infection in other parts like the jaws, neck, skin, or head.

·      It maintains the chewing.

·      It will make sure that the distribution of biting force is normal.

·      It prevents bone loss around the infected area.

TIME TAKEN IN DOING RCT

SINGLE SITTING RCT

Remember, when it comes to dental treatments…the sooner, the better. Treatment usually takes one appointment, but if there is a severe infection, curved canals, or multiple canals, it might take two or three appointments.

COST OF RCT

Ignoring early cavities will cause more pain later not only in your tooth but also in your wallet. When you don’t fill your dental cavities and they progress further into root canal treatments which cost much more.

The cost of RCT depends on the complexity of the problem and which tooth is affected.  Molars are difficult to treat, so the cost is a bit more than anterior teeth.

RCT is a less costly option than having a tooth extracted and replaced with an implant or bridge. So RCT is relatively a cost- efficient treatment in place of extraction of the tooth.

 

CONCLUSION

RCT

RCT is often taken as a painful procedure, root canal treatment is not painful unless you procrastinate your dental check-ups. It is indeed a TOOTH SAVIOR!

It’s best to get the teeth checked up, even if you don’t feel any pain. So you can not only save a lot of sitting hours at the dental clinic but also MONEY. Don’t delay your root canal treatment. The dental problems come back with more force and cause more damage.

Occasionally, the root canal treated tooth may become painful, months or even years after successful treatment. It might be saved with re RCT.

There might be some other signs which might need you to immediately visit your dentist for a check-up.

 

Shubham Dental Clinic in Hisar

We are proud to help the patients of Hisar and nearby to achieve their healthiest smiles. If you are experiencing any of the problems discussed above, we can help restore your oral health by performing RCT. Our specialties include Root Canal Treatment, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, regular cleaning and hygiene, crowns, bridges, and dental implants. Contact us to schedule your next appointment!

SHUBHAM DENTAL CLINIC-BEST DENTAL CLINIC IN HISAR

10 TIPS TO AVOID DENTAL CAVITIES

 

AVOID CAVITIES,BRUSH TWICE

When we are happy, we celebrate- MOOH MEETHA KARAO SABKA. It’s a time of festivals. We are on the point of celebrating the festivals of Navratri, Durga Pooja, Dussehra and Diwali and then comes Christmas and New Year. Eating delicious homemade sweets is the best thing at festival time, but it can cause dental cavities, gum problems and tooth sensitivity. As the consumption of sweets, chocolates and sugar is on a rise, the chances of oral problems also increase proportionately. Do not let the festivities hamper your oral health as the continuous sugar attack may spoil the fun if left unchecked.

Welcome the festival with sweets and not cavities. Toothache is the worst thing that can happen when you want to enjoy at festival time. Being a foodie, there is a part in everyone of us who wants to enjoy sweets, but the dentist always thinks about the most dreaded ‘C’ word…..CAVITIES!!

Here are 10 tips and tricks of oral care to flaunt a sparkling smile along with enjoying sweets:

1.BE WISE, BRUSH TWICE

Enjoy the jalebis and gujias, but ensure that you brush and floss your teeth for at least twice a day and best possible is after every meal. If sugary substance will remain stuck on your tooth, it can cause dental cavities. So the simplest thing is routine dental care which includes brushing, flossing and using an antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day. Tooth decay start when the bacteria eat sugar, which releases acid that causes tooth decay. Brush and floss them away! Don’t brush your teeth right after consuming a sugary substance. Wait for few minutes after your meals to brush your teeth, so your enamel has got sufficient time to solidify before you brush.

2.SPECIAL CARE FOR SWEET TOOTH

We can’t imagine of enjoying festivals without sweets. But it can cause sharp pain on your sweet tooth which is called sensitivity. So just switch to desensitizer toothpaste and enjoy your festival with no tension of sensitivity.

3.HYDRATE,HYDRATE,HYDRATE

Mindless eating and drinking alcohol causes a lot of dehydration. Make water as your best friend and keep on sipping water at regular intervals. Drink a lot of water and keep yourself hydrated. If you can’t brush directly after eating, drink water as it cleans your mouth and no food residue is left on your teeth. Drinking water helps in stimulating  the production of saliva, and it will reduce the formation of a sticky layer on your teeth called plaque. Drink a lot of water before meals and snacks. It will give you the feeling of fullness. It will not only help to maintain your oral health and preventing dental caries but will also help in controlling your weight.

4.AVOID COLORED FOODS

Avoid food items that contain artificial colors and preservatives. It will cause staining of your teeth and moreover,  the acids present in them promote the growth of bacteria. If you feel that your teeth are stained, you can switch to a tooth whitening paste. Don’t forget that you can swap fruits for a sweet treat that will keep your sparkling smile intact. Chew a sugar-free gum like Doublemint, Happymint ,etc., after having  food as it can act as a sugar substitute as well as it will help in preventing tooth cavities.

COLORED FOOD CAUSES CAVITIES

5.ALWAYS EAT SWEETS FIRST OR BETWEEN MEALS

Keep in mind that anything sticky is bad! The stickier the chocolate, the longer it will remain around your tooth, and it increases the probability of developing a cavity.

Sweets or chocolates are always sticky, which can lead to dental cavities and can cause sensitivity. At times, even rinsing the mouth with water is not sufficient to get rid of these sticky remains in the mouth. So if you relish your desserts before meals or have them with your meals, it would help in reducing the chance of many teeth-related problems. The best kind of chocolate for your dental health is semi-sweet chocolate that is dark chocolate as it contains less sugar.

If you wear BRACES, then you have to be more careful, since these sweets and candies can get stuck between your braces, and it turns out to be really difficult to get rid of these candies and will ultimately lead to dental cavities.

6.RINSE, RINSE, RINSE

Always rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after every meal. Make it a habit and stay relaxed. Rinsing with water protects your enamel by removing the leftover food and sugar particles from the mouth. Warm saline rinses are more beneficial in maintaining healthy gums and treating existing gum diseases. We can say eat it, brush and floss your teeth, or at least rinse with water (then brush and floss later) ,and it’s done.

7.POST ALCOHOL CARE

Festival means not only sweet dishes, but people also enjoy various alcoholic beverages, especially beer and wine. These are acidic and make your teeth porous. So never brush your teeth immediately and wait for at least an hour before brushing your teeth. Always brush your teeth with an extra-soft toothbrush with soft hands using gentle pressure.

8.USE A STRAW

Whenever you are drinking sugary and acidic drinks, consider using a straw. It will reduce the teeth exposed to the acids and sugar present in the drinks. Food acids are not worse than sugar, but they can have effects on your teeth as serious as sugar exposure and can cause rotting of teeth.

USE STRAW, LESS ROTTEN TEETH

9.REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF CONSUMPTION

Don’t munch all the time. Rest your jaw. This is not only good for your teeth, but also for your waistline. Eating sweet stuff alone doesn’t cause cavities. What causes cavities is the frequency of consumption as your teeth are exposed to tooth decaying acids for a longer time. Sipping sweetened drinks often, frequently causes more damage than having a piece of dark chocolate post lunch every day. Keep in mind that the frequency of exposure is more harmful than quantity. So avoid sipping overtime to keep a smile bright as your clothes. Drink and finish.

10.DON’T TREAT YOUR TEETH LIKE TOOLS

During festivals, we decorate our houses, and while decorating, many times we use our teeth as tools to untie knots, peel a wire, to cut threads, etc., which can damage our teeth. You are not only damaging your teeth, but you are also at times putting yourself at life threatening risks. That is why, care for your teeth and they will be with you, sparkling all the way!!

TEETH ARE NOT TOOLS

 

Festive occasions are a call for sweets. You don’t have to avoid desserts or go for a sweet detox. Just practice good oral hygiene habits and no matter how healthy your teeth are, make sure that you will go for regular cleaning and checkups with your dentist. If there is any carious tooth or any other tooth related problem, get  the dental treatment done. Follow these tips, and you can enjoy a lifetime of happy, beautiful smiles!  Have fun at these festivals without worrying about your SMILE.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Rinku Mittal, a graduate of DAV Dental College, Yamunanagar, provides superioR and comprehensive dental care for SHUBHAM DENTAL CLINIC at HISAR from last 22 years.

To learn more about how to keep your teeth and smile healthy between visits to the dentist, please contact us at 9812437844.

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