Root canal treatment is possibly the most widely recognized dental treatment. It is used to cure the infection that is at the centre of the tooth. Every tooth has a root canal system and an infection to it creates trouble. The infection might be caused by a bacteria or bad oral care. The infection can result into tooth decay, leaky filings that were done earlier in the tooth and damage to the teeth that could result in tooth loss.
- Tooth Structure
Every tooth is made up mainly of two parts that consist of crown, that is the visible part of the tooth and the root, which extends in the lower side of the gums and keeps the tooth in position. The main components of teeth are:
- Enamel – It is the hard outer coating of every tooth.
- Dentine – It’s the softer material that supports the enamel.
- Cementum – It’s a hard material that acts as a coating on the tooth.
- Dental Pulp – It’s a soft tissue that is found at the centre of the tooth.
- Infection
The centre of the tooth houses a pulp that is made from a soft tissue and has the blood vessels and nerve endings. If the pulp gets infected by the bacteria, then it dies and the whole tooth starts to get affected by it. The bacteria multiply and they reach at the root of the tooth where the blood vessels and the nerves enter. As the bacteria keeps on multiplying, there is no method to stop them spreading and this causes the tissues around the teeth to become red and swollen. This can cause you a lot of discomfort and in some cases even causes your face to swell up.
- Procedure
The treatment includes removing the bacteria from the tooth to subside down the swelling and the discomfort. There are two ways of the treatment; one is to remove the affected tooth (extraction) or an attempt to save it by using the root canal treatment. After the bacteria are removed from the centre of the tooth, it is filled with a filling or a crown is put into place. The tissues at the root of the gums get cured eventually. Before getting the root canal treatment done, you have to be on the local anaesthesia. As the root canal treatment is quite painful, you need to be sure that you are not having any tough time while getting the procedure done. Root canal is successful in almost all of the cases and the tooth can be used as it was before.
- Aftercare
After getting the root canal treatment, it is very much important that you take proper care of your teeth to ensure it recovers in a right way. Avoid biting too hard on the food and use the separate side of the mouth where the treatment has been done. You have to maintain good oral hygiene and have to avoid too much of sugary food. If you are a smoker, then you have to give up smoking till the tooth recovers completely.
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