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Endodontic Treatment (Root Canal Treatment)
What is Endodontic Treatment?
An endodontic treatment or root canal treatment refers to the cleaning of the canals inside the root of your tooth. These canals contain nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue called pulp. When a tooth is broken or develops a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp causing infection that needs to be treated.
When do you need a Endodontic Treatment?
When a tooth cavity has been untreated for a long time, bacteria can enter the soft core of the tooth (called the pulp) through this cavity, causing serious infection. An endodontic treatment or root canal treatment is required to drain the diseased pulp, cure the infection and seal the damaged tooth. Other root canal causes are worn tooth enamel or fillings, gum infection or exposed roots.
Risk Factors of Teeth Infection
You could be at a higher risk of serious teeth infections due to the following factors:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Delay in treating infections and cavities
Signs & Symptoms that you need a Endodontic Treatment
Severe toothache, especially in a cavity could be an indication that you need a root canal treatment.
Other symptoms you may need a root canal treatment
- Facial Swelling
- Crack in your tooth
- Swollen gums
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
Endodontic Diagnosis
At the outset, Medcare's endodontist or dentist in Dubai & Sharjah will take an X-ray of the painful or infected tooth. The result of the X-ray will help the specialist observe the shape of the root canals and determine if there is any infection in the surrounding bone. A root canal or endodontic treatment will be recommended with an intention to save the tooth as far as possible.
Endodontic Treatment Options
At Medcare in Dubai & Sharjah, the root canal treatment steps may involve:
- First the decay is removed and in order to reach the pulp chamber, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth.
- The infected pulp is removed and the whole area, including the root canals are flushed and disinfected.
- A dental filling is placed to protect the root canal from saliva.
- Finally a crown or an artificial tooth made from gold, porcelain or metal completes the restoration process.
Endodontic Treatment FAQs:
Endodontic Treatment FAQs:
Inclusions:
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Why am I being advised to get a root canal treatment? Why will a normal filling not achieve the same result?
A: Your dentist will advise you to have a root canal treatment if your tooth is badly infected and decayed. Root canal treatment makes it possible to save the tooth. The pulp of your tooth, composed of nerves and blood vessels, has got infected or damaged. During the root canal treatment, this pulp will be removed, and the inside of the tooth will be cleaned and sealed. This cannot be done during a regular filling procedure.
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Will I need a crown on my tooth after the root canal treatment?
A: It is very likely that your dentist will advise your tooth to be crowned after a root canal treatment, and yes, you should definitely heed this advice. The crown helps to strengthen the tooth, which gets weakened because all the pulp has been removed. The crown enables the treated tooth to last for a long time.
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What are the success rates of root canal treatments? How long can I expect that tooth to last?
A: Root canal treatments are highly successful. Research shows that the success rate is over 95%. Many teeth that have been treated with this procedure last the lifetime of the individual. So you can expect good and long lasting results from a root canal treatment.
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My dentist has told me that a root canal treatment is necessary, but I’ve heard this is very painful, so I’m doing my best to avoid it.
A: It’s a myth that a root canal treatment is very painful, the current methods and techniques make this procedure virtually painless. Please remember that avoiding the root canal can cause complications such as abscesses, and in fact, lead to excruciating pain, much worse than root canal treatment pain. So if your endodontist or dentist has advised a root canal treatment, meet the dental specialist and start on this procedure as soon as possible.
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What is root canal treatment?
A: A root canal treatment or endodontic treatment is performed to remove the bacteria and infected tissue from the affected area. It is a vital procedure if you want to cure the chronic pain caused due to prolonged tooth infection and to extract the deep-seated infection from the tooth canal. If left untreated, this condition can become quite severe and may even require you to remove the tooth.
The entire root canal procedure usually takes around 1-2 sittings with a dentist to complete. Taking good care of your teeth and gums is recommended after the procedure to prevent any further cavities and infections.
Need a root canal treatment? Book an appointment with a Medcare specialist today.
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How long does it take to recover from a root canal?
A: Patients usually experience a bit of pain and discomfort during a root canal procedure, and in some cases even after the procedure is completed.
While some patients may feel only mild discomfort, others may experience higher levels of pain, especially if they experienced inflammation or swelling before the procedure. In such cases, it typically takes around three to four days for the pain to subside with the help of over-the-counter medicines prescribed by the doctor. It is also recommended to avoid chewing with the treated tooth until the pain subsides completely.
Need to get a root canal treatment done? Book an appointment with a Medcare specialist today.
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Is a crown necessary after a root canal treatment?
A: A root canal procedure is performed on a tooth when the pulp is irreversibly inflamed or if the decay is extensive.
However, when a tooth undergoes the root canal treatment, it becomes even more brittle and prone to chipping or breaking. This is especially true for teeth that play a primary role in chewing, such as the molars and premolars. This is why placing a dental crown on them becomes a necessity. In the case of canines and incisors however, since the teeth are not prime assistors in chewing, you may or may not need a crown.
Need to get a root canal treatment done? Book an appointment with a Medcare specialist today.
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What are alternatives to root canal treatment?
A: A root canal treatment is usually the preferred procedure to treat a tooth if the pulp at the root has damaged to a great extent. There are alternative treatments for this dental condition, such as using ozone gas to irrigate the root cavity, which can penetrate the deeper areas and kill the bacteria. However, there remains the possibility of the infection returning, unlike in the case of a root canal.
Complete extraction is also another alternative to undergoing a root canal. But it is even more painful and more expensive as you then have to replace the natural tooth with a bridge, dental implants or partial dentures.
Need to get a root canal treatment done? Book an appointment with a Medcare specialist today.
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How painful is a root canal treatment?
A: Anyone who has ever heard about the root canal treatment immediately associates it with pain. However, before the root canal, patients are administered medication to reduce the pain. Once the pain subsides, the procedure is performed under anaesthesia, which mitigates the pain so that at the most, there is only a feeling of mild discomfort.
Keep in mind though that some patients do tend to feel discomfort, pain and soreness a few days after the procedure is done. To counter this, patients are prescribed over-the-counter medicine, and the treated tooth should ideally heal within a week, if not earlier.
Need to get a root canal treatment done but unsure from where? Book an appointment with a Medcare specialist today.
