Root canal treatment is a common dental procedure done to preserve a decaying or damaged tooth. If you have a cavity that has impacted the tooth pulp, you may experience extreme pain and discomfort, for which you may need to go for root canal therapy. You can check online to find known Wichita Falls dental services and get an oral exam done. Your dentist will explain if root canal treatment can help or whether an extraction is necessary. We have explained the steps involved in a standard root canal treatment.
- Anesthesia. Your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the affected tooth and gums. Sedation is typically not needed, but for patients who have extreme dental anxiety, this could be necessary. The dentist will then place a dental dam to isolate the tooth and create a dry environment for the procedure.
- Access hole. The first step in the actual process is to create an access hold, which helps in accessing the pulp. This is done on the same day.
- Pulp removal. Your dentist will then use tiny dental instruments to remove the infected pulp, blood vessels, and tissues inside the infected tooth.
- Canal shaping. Once the above step is done, the root canal and pulp chamber are cleaned and disinfected using a special material.
- Filling the canals. The next step is to fill the empty canals using a dental material known as gutta-percha.
- Sealing the treated tooth. The access to the inside of the tooth is then sealed to prevent further infection.
- Final restoration. After root canal treatment, the tooth is usually weak and prone to breaking. Your dentist will use a dental crown to encase the treated tooth and to add to its stability and full function.
Things to know
While root canal treatment is a standard procedure, there are certain risks that your dentist will explain. The entire treatment can be done in one session, but dentists often divide the seven steps into three to four sessions to minimize discomfort and pain. You can expect to preserve your natural tooth with root canal treatment, which is a huge advantage when compared to an extraction. The procedure is done under local anesthesia, and therefore, you wouldn’t feel much pain.
You may have to wait for a while before you can get a dental crown, which is designed in a lab and not in your dentist’s clinic. Talk to your dentist about root canal treatment now.