When you have a root canal scheduled for the first time, you probably feel a bit scared, particularly if you\u2019ve heard horror stories about what others have gone through. But we\u2019re going to go through what you can expect and what will happen during the procedure. This should help you feel a bit better about what is going to happen. One thing that you should know is that root canals do not cause pain. Instead they relieve it. Here is a step by step process of what will happen during a root canal:
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Local Anesthesia –<\/strong>\u00a0You will receive injections to numb your tooth and the area around it. If there\u2019s a lot of inflammation in the pulp and its really painful, it could take time before it numbs. However, the procedure won\u2019t start until you can\u2019t feel it.<\/p>\n Dental Dam –<\/strong>\u00a0Your dentist will place one of the dental dams over the tooth that\u2019s affected and the teeth around it. This is a sheet made of thin vinyl or rubber. The tooth he or she\u2019s\u2019 working on will come up through a hole that\u2019s punched into the dam, so its isolated from the remainder of your mouth. This is so that your root canal can be done in an environment that\u2019s sterile and free from being contaminated by the bacteria found in your mouth and saliva.<\/p>\n Access Hole Drilled –<\/strong>\u00a0Once your tooth is isolated with the dental dam, the doctor will drill a small hole in your affected tooth\u2019s surface, or if it\u2019s one of your front teeth, from behind it. This will give them access to the root canals and pulp chamber so it can be treated.<\/p>\n Tissue is Removed –<\/strong>\u00a0The pulp tissue that\u2019s dead and diseased will be removed from your tooth using instruments that are specially designed for cleaning out the pulp chamber and root canals of teeth. This isn\u2019t painful since your area\u2019s been numbed and that tissue\u2019s dead or it\u2019s dying. After the pulp, together the nerve that it contains, has been removed, you\u2019re not going to feel any pain in the tooth.<\/p>\n Disinfecting –<\/strong>\u00a0Your canals will be disinfected using antibacterial solutions and antiseptic.<\/p>\n Shaping –<\/strong>\u00a0Your canals then are shaped using flexible tiny instruments which can receive fillers and fillings for root canals. Your canals are cleaned and washed so that any debris is removed before they\u2019re sealed.<\/p>\n Filling –<\/strong>\u00a0Fillings for root canals are chosen that are going to fit exactly into those canals that are freshly prepared. Normally a material that is rubber-like known as gutt-percha is used for filling in that canal space. This thermoplastic material is heated up and then put into as well as against your root canal walls so that they\u2019re sealed. Along with a sealer, the space is filled with the gutta-percha. This step is very important to stopping the canal from getting infected again.<\/p>\n Filling Material –<\/strong>\u00a0Next a filling material that is either permanent or temporary is placed so that the access hole\u2019s sealed and the dam will be removed. If there isn\u2019t enough structure in the tooth so that it can hold the filling, the endodontist or dentist might put a really strong plastic or metal post inside one of your canals for helping to hold it.<\/p>\n Treatment –<\/strong>\u00a0Once the procedure\u2019s done, you may be given an antibiotic so that infection is treated or prevented. Make sure that you\u2019re following any instructions you\u2019re given very carefully. There usually aren\u2019t very many after effects, and if there are, they usually only last a couple days to a week. You may have a bit of discomfort following your treatment like slight soreness which you can treat with things like ibuprofen or aspirin or stronger medicine, or even a combination of them.<\/p>\n Crown or Filling –<\/strong>\u00a0After you\u2019ve had a root canal, you\u2019ll need some kind of permanent restoration for your tooth, like a crown or filling, for replacing the tooth structure that was lost and providing a total seal to your tooth\u2019s top. You will be sent back to your dentist if you\u2019ve seen an endodontist or your dentist will discuss which is best for you if they did the root canal. This is a really important step because its been discovered that if a filled root canal gets contaminated again, you could get another infection around your tooth.<\/p>\n A lot like a plant\u2019s root system, your tooth\u2019s root canals have a lot of side branches along with its main branch. So its whole system will need sealing during a root canal so that it\u2019s going to be successful. Because they\u2019re very small, root canals will need a lot of care and precision when they\u2019re being treated. That\u2019s why most of the endodontists will use the latest technology such as digital imaging for diagnosing problems with them. After the treatment is over, they use them for verifying that the seal was doing properly. They then use ultrasonic instruments for removing old posts and canal fillings and cleaning canals as well as operating microscopes for accurately locating, visualizing and sealing the systems of root canals. It\u2019s really high tech. When you have a root canal scheduled for the first time, you probably feel a bit scared, particularly if you\u2019ve heard horror stories about what others have gone through. But we\u2019re going to go through what you can expect and what will happen during the procedure. This should help you feel a bit better about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-oral-health-topics","category-root-canal"],"yoast_head":"\nStep 2:<\/h3>\n
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What Else\u00a0to Know<\/h3>\n
\nNow that you know what you should expect if you ever have to have a root canal done, maybe you won\u2019t be as nervous. Make sure that you ask your dentist or endodontist any questions that you have and bring up any concerns that you have. They\u2019ll be happy to answer your questions and put your concerns to rest.
\nContact us today to learn more, or schedule a consultation online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"