Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that replace a tooth’s damaged or infected pulp with filling in and sealing off the nerve space inside the tooth so no contaminates can seep in or seep out. The procedure is also known as endodontic treatment. The vast majority of people who undergo root canal treatment can expect a functional tooth after the treatment.
The length of the procedure varies. You may need one or more visits to complete the endodontic treatment, depending on the complexity of the root canals in your tooth.
Symptoms of damage
- Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure
- Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
- Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
- Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums
- A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums
A range of causes
There are many events that can lead to disease or damage to dental pulp. Some of these include:
- Deep-seated and untreated dental decay
- Decay beneath a deep filling
- Trauma that damages a tooth
- Habitual tooth grinding (bruxism)
- Advanced gum disease.
How Painful Is a Root Canal?
Root canal procedures have the reputation of being painful. Actually, most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling placed.
Complications:
If the infection is left untreated, complications could include:
- Spreading infection This can cause a severe infection or an endodontic abscess when it spreads into the surrounding bone
- Localised bone loss – the infection may spread around the ends of the infected root canal and cause bone loss in the jaw.
- Loss of tooth