What is a Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy often referred as root canal treatment, otherwise called endodontic treatment. It is a dental treatment for eliminating a disease from inside a tooth.

It can likewise shield the tooth from future contaminations. Root canal therapy means cleaning the entire pulp (nerves and vessels of the tooth) disinfecting it and filling it with an inert material.

 

What does root canal therapy do?

Root canal therapy removes the whole pulp of the tooth including that within the canals of each root of the tooth. Then it enlarges those canals and cleans them. After disinfection, the canals are filled. It is followed by placing a cap/crown on the tooth to reinforce it.

When is it necessary?

It is necessary to do a root canal therapy when the decay is so deep that it reaches the pulp after crossing the enamel as well as dentinal layers of the tooth. Such a deep decay usually causes severe, unbearable pain in the tooth especially in the night.

Root canal therapy is also needed in those teeth which have pus/infection due to any reason. This type of infection usually causes pain while eating.

How long does it take?

The length and the number of appointments is based on the amount of infection present in the tooth. It ranges from  Single sitting RCTs to multiple sitting ones where the gap in between two appointments can be 5 days to 1 week. On an average, three appointments are sufficient.

How long does it last?

The success rate of root canal treatment is extremely high. At our dental clinic in pimple saudagar we see first-hand with our patients. As per the research and actual findings, 98% of root canal last for a year, 92% last for five years, and 85% last for ten to fifteen years, sometimes even longer.

But it also depends on the patient compliance and severity of the infection. Molars treated by root canal specialist had a 10-year endurance rate, essentially higher than that of molars treated by broad dental specialists.

Is root canal therapy pulpotomy?

No, pulpotomy is a procedure where only partial removal of pulp is carried out. This treatment is done only for milk teeth. A pulpotomy is more unhelpful than a normal filling, but a root canal is far more helpful than a pulpotomy.

With a pulpotomy, only the upper most pulp is removed. With a root canal, all the tooth’s pulp must be removed, including the roots, before filling and sealing.

Is root canal therapy safe?

Yes, absolutely it is safe! The process of the root canal is to remove the bacteria even from the root of the tooth, so this treatment is totally safe for most of the individuals. The root canal treatment not only provides impermanent relief for the individuals, it provides relief for a longer duration.

Is root canal therapy painful?

No, it is not. As local anesthesia is administered, the tooth becomes numb and no pain sensation is felt. Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental process used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth. Root canal therapy is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be removed entirely.

What should I avoid after a root canal therapy?

Avoid eating/drinking for at least 1 hour after the treatment and avoid eating hard food from the treated side till the cap is placed. Foods to avoid after a root canal:

1. Very hot and very cold foods and beverages, which can infuriate sensitive teeth.
2. Sticky or gluey foods like caramels, gum, and other candies.
3. Chewy foods like meat and crusty bread.
4. Hard foods which are not easy to chew like nuts.
5. Crunchy foods like chips.

Is it better to have root canal or extraction?

It is always better to have a RCT rather than extraction because the tooth is saved. Extraction of a tooth leads to movement of the adjacent teeth and difficulty in biting/chewing later on.

A root canal has a good success rate than a tooth extraction because there are slight to no future complications associated with the procedure. It is performed by root canal specialist to clean and reinstate an infected tooth. There is no need to extract or remove the tooth.

How long does it take to recover from root canal treatment?

Usually, it takes 3 days to one week to recover from the treatment. Most patients get well from their root canal after a few days. In rare cases, some patients experience difficulties and may take a week or even two to recover.

What is the success rate of root canal therapy?

The research and literature report a success rate ranging from 80% to 88%. Root canal therapy is usually safe and effective, with a success rate of more than 95%. Like any other medical or dental procedure, though, a root canal can rarely fail.

This is normally due to a loose crown, tooth fracture, or new decay. Root canals can be unsuccessful soon after the procedure, or even years later.

Who does root canal therapy?

Any dentist or root canal specialist with the expertise can perform the root canal therapy. The dentist who specializes in this branch of dentistry is an Endodontist.

Endodontists are expert dental specialists who mainly concentrate around problems of the dental pulp and have expertise in root canal. Endodontists go through essentially more specific training and have years more experience. An endodontist likewise is recommended for teeth with more than one canal (molars).

How much does root canal therapy cost in India?

The normal cost of root canal treatment in India varies throughout the cities and at our dental clinic in pimple saudagar, it varies between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 15000 per tooth. The price depends on the type of treatment such as Anterior RCT, Posterior RCT, single sitting RCT and Re-RCT.