Root Canal & Pain Relief

There is no longer the need to fear when the endodontist is near. Root canals are no longer the frightening dental procedure of days gone by; they are a virtually painless procedure performed by an endodontist to save teeth. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in root canals. The root canal is the space in each tooth consisting of soft pulp tissue, which goes from the crown of the tooth down to the tip of the roots. When the delicate pulp within the root canal becomes infected due to injury or infection, then it may be time for the endodontic procedure known as a root canal.

Facts

• There are various types of injury to teeth that may bring about the need for a root canal, such as cracks and chips or deep decay. There are even some injuries to the tooth that are less obvious to the eye and usually only spotted by dental X-ray, but still require a root canal. If this infection is left untreated, the inflammation will grow into an abscess. An abscess occurs when the infection inside the tooth causes the nerves inside to enlarge and block oxygen. Once this occurs the inside of the tooth begins to decay even further and pus will develop at the tip of the root.

Function

• The endodontist will delicately drill into the troubled tooth and clean the infected area. There will be no pain during this process. According to the American Association of Endodontists, once the canal is clean,"the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like material called 'gutta-perca'." The endodontist will then seal the tooth. The seal is only temporary and the tooth will be vulnerable to cracking, so it is necessary to schedule a visit with your dentist soon after this procedure to get your tooth fitted for a crown.

Features

• The procedure itself is relatively painless. Endodontists generally try to make the patient as comfortable as possible before and during the procedure using the latest anesthetics, which is usually a shot that brings about the loss of sensation in and around the tooth. The amount of tooth pain prior to the root canal will indicate whether pain relief will be needed after the procedure. In most cases, root canal pain is minimal and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications. Follow the aftercare instructions provided by the endodontist.

Warning

• Abscesses are extremely serious and require immediate attention. Martin S. Spiller, DMD, of Doctorspiller.com sheds light on the seriousness of an abscess. An untreated abscess can cause a brain infection called cavernous sinus thrombosis, which is blood clots inside the sinus cavity that stems from infection of sinuses, teeth or ears. Dr. Spiller goes on to mention another life-threatening infection called Ludwig's angina, whose symptoms include extreme swelling under the tongue, chin and neck. This inflammation may become so serious as to prevent breathing. Visit your dentist if you experience tooth sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages, or feeling tenderness or aching while biting down. Inflammation and swelling of the gums around the tooth are other indicators of the need for urgent dental assessment.

Significance

• Teeth that have been endodontically cared for last as long as normal teeth. However, there are occasions when a root canal cannot salvage a tooth. There may be instances when the tooth will heal normally and then develop complications and pain later. Although rare, if this should occur the endodontist may need to redo the procedure in order to save the tooth, or even extract the tooth.