Root canal procedures can be concerning despite experienced dentists handling them every day. If you need to engage in any type of dental work, it would be beneficial to understand the facts about root canals. You will need help from an experienced dentist if you have been recommended to undergo root canal therapy in your tooth. You also need to collect all the information from the dentist beforehand to understand the procedure fully and be prepared.
Whether you have a cracked tooth from injury or genetics, issues from fillings in your teeth, or a deep cavity, you can consider yourself a candidate for root canal treatment. You may also watch out for symptoms that need treatment if your teeth feel sensitive to hot and cold conditions. Given below are a few symptoms that may indicate you need a root canal:
The above conditions are indicators that you may need root canal treatment from an experienced dentist.
The dentist will be providing you anesthesia to make you numb for at least 2 to 4 hours following the procedure. Most individuals can return to work or school after root canal surgery. You are, however, suggested not to have any foods until the numbness has disappeared completely.
If your dentist or endodontist has prescribed root canal treatment, you do not need to be concerned because it is just a treatment to rectify a damaged or diseased tooth. Millions of people undergo this therapy yearly to relieve themselves from the pain and make their teeth healthy.
Beneath the white enamel of your tooth lies a soft tissue known as the pulp; the hard layer is known as dentin. Blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue form part of the tissue known as pulp, which is essential to help grow the root of your teeth during its development. A fully grown tooth can remain healthy without its pulp, as it still receives necessary nutrients from the tissues around it.
Modern root canal therapy is unlike the treatment provided earlier. These days, it is similar to a routine filling and is usually completed by the endodontist in a couple of appointments after considering the condition of your tooth and your circumstances. The procedure is relatively painless while being extremely effective. It will allow you to begin smiling, chewing, and biting with ease before you even understand you have undergone the procedure.
You are unlikely to experience any pain because you will be administered anesthesia to make the procedure feel like a routine dental procedure, like getting dental fillings or having a wisdom tooth removed. However, you will feel numbness and soreness after the procedure, causing mild discomfort for some days. As long as you are prepared for the minor discomfort, you can rest assured that root canal surgery will bring back the much-wanted smile to your face.
The treatment costs will vary according to the complexity of the problem and the tooth that is affected. Treatment costs for molars are typically higher. However, many insurance plans offer partial coverage for endodontic procedures. Therefore, if you have one in your possession, you may be able to claim the costs from the insurance company.
Generally, it is more expensive to have alternatives to extracted teeth instead of undergoing endodontic treatment. Replacing a removed tooth with an implant or bridge is essential to restore chewing ability and prevent nearby teeth from moving. These options might be more expensive than undergoing root canal therapy, which might be a suitable alternative to endodontic treatment. Having received the beneficial information about root canal procedures, would you now be confident to undergo the treatment without fear? We are certain you will prepare yourself to flash your smile before your friends after undergoing the root canal surgery you were always fearful about.