A root canal therapy, also known as endodontic therapy, is necessary when the pulp or the nerve tissue of the tooth becomes inflamed and suffers irreversible damage due to crack, decay or tooth fracture. According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey, a large chunk of working hours for adults and school hours for children are lost in visits to the dentist. It has been surveyed that 37% of Canadians have undergone at least one root canal therapy in their lives. If you have been experiencing severe toothache, you might just be in need of a root canal.

Here’s what you need to know about root canal therapy and the associated procedure involved:

  1. Do you need a Root Canal Treatment?

You may need a root canal treatment if you face the following symptoms:

  • Severe Tooth Pain
    You may experience pain when you chew or put pressure on a certain area of your tooth. You can suffer from positional pain or spontaneous pain. Positional pain is when your pain augments when you lie down or stand up or suddenly run. This indicates that you might have a dead tooth. Spontaneous pain occurs when exposed to hot or cold drinks. This is less dangerous as compared to the former.

  • Swollen Gums
    You observe pimples or blisters on your gums near the painful tooth. A fistula (the name given to a white, yellow or red boil type eruption) develops on your gums.

  • Discoloration of the Painful Tooth
    Your affected tooth may appear darker or may fade away in color.

  • Increased Sensitivity
    Your teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold foods, leaving you with a stinging and prickling pain that may persist for a long time.

  1. What to Expect During the Procedure?

Until you meet your dentist, apply an ice pack on your jaw to decrease pain and experience a soothing effect. After you meet the dentist, she will examine your tooth and take an X-ray to identify the cause of your pain. Depending on your diagnosis, she may recommend you a root canal therapy.

Before beginning the root canal therapy, the dentist applies local anesthesia to the affected part to make it numb. A sheet of latex, called a rubber dam, might be placed to cover your mouth to prevent bacteria from entering. This also ensures that you do not end up swallowing any medications used. The dentist then makes an opening in the crown your tooth and removes the infected pulp. After that space is cleaned and shaped, it is filled a rubber type material called gutta-percha and sealed off with cement.

  1. Tips for Care After Root Canal Treatment

Your teeth need proper care and maintenance after a root canal therapy. You must practice healthy oral habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day and floss at least once. Avoid biting on hard foods as they can weaken your teeth and damage root canals. Visit your dentist regularly for general checkups and detection of tooth decay.

If you have been experiencing any of the above symptoms such as a severe toothache, do not hesitate to book an appointment with our in-house dental expert at Edmonton Smiles.

Posted in Procedures and Treatments