Dental problems are most often caused by tooth decay or damage. If left untreated, an infection can spread throughout the pulp chamber and penetrate the bone if it reaches the tip of the root. As the bacterial infection reaches the inner portion of the tooth, you will feel pain as the cavity gets deeper. Fortunately, root canal therapy is one of the solutions to save a damaged tooth.
If you are interested in reading more about the reasons for root canal therapy, continue reading this blog post.
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What is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is a dental procedure that is also known as endodontic therapy. One of the purposes of root canal therapy is to heal and save teeth that have been severely decayed or diseased. Due to deep decay, repeated dental operations on the same tooth, a crack or chip in the tooth, the nerve and pulp of a tooth may become infected. A dental abscess may develop if you do not treat the infection at the connective tissue around your tooth.
Root canal therapy can relieve tooth pain and preserve your natural teeth. Our dentist will drill a hole in your tooth and remove the diseased tooth pulp. Then, we will clean, disinfect and shape the root canals. Lastly, a dental filling is used to seal them.
Common Signs And Symptoms You Need A Root Canal Therapy
Severe Toothache
Severe pain occurs when the nerve in the tooth roots and its surrounding soft tissue is irritated. Whether the severe tooth pain is sudden and sharp or dull and constant, tooth pain is hard to ignore. There are several causes of dental pain, including tooth infection, decay, injury, or loss.
If you experience sudden and intense pain, you probably have an infected pulp or dead tooth that requires root canal surgery. It is important to visit your dentist right away if the pain is quite severe.
Bump On Gums
Abscesses developing on the gums are known as gum boils. These appear as swollen bumps on the gums. Infection beneath the surface of the gum is usually caused by bacteria such as plaque, food particles, or tooth decay.
Poor dental hygiene is often the cause of a bump in the gums. It is best to keep your mouth healthy to reduce the possibility of gum boils. Any bumps on your gums could indicate that you have an infected pulp that needs root canal surgery.
Teeth Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Food
Sensitive teeth may happen if the enamel of your teeth has worn away, which causes the infected nerves to be more exposed. Nerve exposure may worsen your teeth sensitivity, especially if you eat acidic foods. When you eat or drink something with an extremely low or high temperature, you may experience sudden and sharp pain.
You can develop teeth sensitivity to warm and cold temperatures if you have a dental problem. The discomfort caused by heat and cold might persist for many hours after consuming a drink or food for people with teeth sensitivity.
Swelling Of The Gums
In order to maintain good oral health, you need healthy gums. Gum tissue is a firm, pink tissue covering the jawbone. The tissue is fibrous, thick, and full of blood vessels.
However, your gums will protrude or bulge out if they are swollen. In most cases, swelling begins at the border of your gums and your tooth. This causes the gums to look red instead of the usual pink colour. When the gums are swollen, they may be irritated, sensitive, or painful.
When your gums swell due to an infected tooth, this is a sign that you need root canal surgery. This is different from irritated gums, which sometimes occur after flossing or brushing too aggressively. Swollen gums are more uncomfortable and painful to touch.
Discolouration or Dark Spot On The Gums
A layer of dead tissue can form on the gums during infection, resulting in black or grey gums. It results from excess growth of bacteria in the mouth caused by gingivitis. An unhealthy diet, poor oral hygiene, stress, or lack of sleep can cause bacteria to build up.
The darkening of the gums is a symptom that the gums have been infected with bacteria. The gums will deteriorate, and the tooth will fall out if there is an infection. Your tooth may need a root canal if you experience this problem.
Cracked Or Chipped Tooth
People who experience pain while chewing food or whose teeth suddenly become sensitive to hot and cold may have a cracked tooth.
Usually, the pain associated with a cracked tooth or any damage to teeth may come and go. Dentists may have difficulty finding a crack because of this, especially if the fracture is very small.
Broken or chipped teeth are both indicators that the tooth may require root canal therapy. There is a possibility that the damage to your tooth has now resulted in an infected or irritated dental pulp. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible if you suspect that you have a cracked tooth. Cracked teeth can result in more problems, pain, and discomfort over time if left untreated. To save the rest of the tooth, you almost certainly need root canal therapy.
Is Getting A Root Canal Therapy Painful
In most cases, root canals don’t cause any pain since local anesthesia is used to numb the tooth and the surrounding area before the procedure. Therefore, root canal therapy is a painless procedure. After root canal therapy, people typically experience mild discomfort for a few days.
Our dentists at Burwood Dental Care have gentle hands who will take care of you during the entire procedure. Endodontic treatment can definitely help alleviate any discomfort and pain you may be experiencing. If you have more questions about root canal therapy, just call us at 03 7003 2004.
What Happens During A Root Canal Therapy Procedure
Our dentists perform root canal therapy to treat infected or inflamed pulp tissue, in order to relieve severe toothaches. Local anesthetics and modern endodontic treatment methods ensure that most patients feel as painless as possible.
One or more dental appointments may be required for root canal therapy. First, our qualified dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the affected tooth and the surrounding tissue to start your endodontic treatment. Then, the tooth is drilled to access the pulp and remove the infected tissue. A rubber-like substance is used to fill in the cavities and roots of the tooth after it has been cleaned, shaped, and sterilized. This creates a seal in order to prevent infection.
Since the infected tissues are now removed, you may no longer experience pain in that tooth following an endodontic procedure. Lastly, our dentists will educate you on how you can take care of your teeth after undergoing root canal therapy.
Benefits Of Getting A Root Canal Therapy
One of the most significant benefits of root canal therapy is eliminating your toothache and preventing complicated infections in your mouth. After a root canal procedure, patients can return to their daily activities without experiencing tooth discomfort or pressure from inflammation in the tooth’s pulp. Moreover, the procedure is entirely painless.
Root canal treatment can help you keep your natural teeth and let you eat your favourite foods. As long as the patient maintains proper oral hygiene habits, a simple root canal procedure may last a lifetime.
Lastly, root canal therapy is a perfect solution to treat your damaged teeth. It prevents tooth loss, prevents infection to your adjacent teeth, boosts the aesthetics of your teeth, prevents jawbone degradation, and improves your overall oral health.
Cost Of Root Canal Therapy
A root canal therapy cost can vary depending on several factors, including the number of canals to be filled, location of the infected tooth, severity of your dental problem, and whether a dental crown is necessary.
Here are the estimated root canal prices:
- Root Canal (1 Canal) With Filling $646 – $990
- Root Canal (2 Canal) With Crown $2565 – $3590
- Root Canal (3 Canal) With Filling $1225 – $1990
- Root Canal (4 Canal) With Crown $3144 – $4590
Final Thoughts
A root canal is a type of restorative procedure. Most people who receive the treatment will be able to reap the benefits for the rest of their lives. However, how long the benefits remain depends on how well you care for your teeth.
Your restored tooth, like the rest of your teeth, needs to be cleaned and flossed on a regular basis, just like the rest of your teeth. So it is very important to maintain your oral hygiene habits.
We hope this blog is helpful to you and answers some of your questions about root canal therapy. We always aim to provide as much important dental health information as possible and to ensure that our patients receive safe and efficient dental services.
Burwood Dental Care is a dental clinic located in Burwood, Victoria, Australia. If you’re experiencing spontaneous pain or considering root canal therapy, call our team today at 03 7003 2004.
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