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WHAT IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT (RCT)? WHEN AND WHY IS IT DONE?

This endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth.

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected.  Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form.

 

 

 

 

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SIGNS IN TEETH INDICATED FOR ROOT CANAL TREATMENT:

• Severe dental pain radiating to head, ear, neck

• Prolonged dental sensitivity to cold, sweet items

• Food lodgement with or without pain

• Inability to eat from that side

• Clinically could see a blackish discolouration, worn fractured part of tooth.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF ROOT CANAL TREATMENT IS DELAYED?

The infection may spread deep down into the tooth, leading to more destruction (larger/bigger) cavity in the tooth and later it may spread to the other teeth also. If the tooth weakens extensively then it may not be possible to save with RCT later on leaving to only one option – complete removal of the teeth!

 

WILL THE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PROCEDURE BE PAINLESS?

Yes, since the procedure is done under local anaesthesia, making it a painless procedure followed by painkillers after the treatment and slowly as the inflammation and infection subsides pain goes off.

 

HOW DOES ROOT CANAL SAVE THE TOOTH?

During the procedure infected pulp tissue is removed, canals are properly cleaned and shaped then the space is filled and sealed for life, followed by placement of crown or restoration over the tooth to prevent the teeth from fracture and to restore it to full function, form and size. Thus the tooth continues to work like a healthy tooth.

HOW MANY VISITS DOES IT REQUIRE??

Generally, front teeth have one canal and the back teeth have multiple canals. Root canal treatment usually takes one to three visits depending on the difficulty of the canal system, extent of infection and more canals and curved roots may take more visits or a complicated infection may take longer to complete.

WHY  PAIN AFTER ROOT CANAL TREATMENT??

When there is inflammation and swelling caused by a sick tooth, this ligament can also be swollen and sick. It takes some time for that swelling to reduce and the tissue to  be normal again after the root canal is completed. That is likely the cause of pain after several days. Within few days as the infection  and inflammation subsides pain goes off.

 

WHAT IS SINGLE SITTING ROOT CANAL TREATMENT? WHEN IS IT ADVISABLE??

Root canal treatment when done in a single visit :- from opening the teeth to cleaning shaping and filling all steps done in a single appointment classifies as Single Sitting RCT.

It may be advisable under following circumstances

 1. Patients coming from far off distances, where multiple visits not feasible

2. All situations where vital pulpotomy has to be performed.

3. Where an anterior tooth fractures below the gingival line without exposing the pulp.

4. Non vital cases where there is no periapical radiolucency seen and the tooth is non tender to percussion.

5. Anterior teeth are more preferred than posterior teeth with more complex anatomy.

However, all the cases where there is evidence of periapical radiolucency, cases of retreatment, roots with wet canals should never be done by single sitting root canal treatment.

 

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PROCEDURE

RCT procedure involves the following steps:

1. Clinical and digital X-ray examination

2. Local Anaesthetic (LA) injection technique

3. Having made the tooth numb, opening is made in the crown of the teeth. canals are properly cleaned and shaped.

4. Inert material like gutta percha sticks and sealer are filled into the canal space after proper cleaning and shaping

5. Root canal treatment is followed with a crown (cap) over teeth.

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WHAT IF THE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PROCEDURE IS DELAYED?

The infection will spread deep down leading to more destruction  bigger cavity in the teeth, further spreading the infection to the adjacent teeth ,spreading of pus deep down leading to periapical abscess leading to gross destruction of teeth which cannot be saved thus the only option is removal of the teeth.

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If you wish to fix an appointment for dental consultancy at Sneha Dental Care (contact us); you may call the reception and fix an appointment. If you wish to know more details about RCT treatment and procedures and in particular to your condition feel free to call us at: +91-9429284575 or mail us your queries on doctor.sneha21@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.