Root Canal Treatment FAQ
When do you need a root canal treatment?
Find out whether you are suffering from any of the following symptoms:
- Discomfort in chewing or biting food
- Tooth sensitivity while having anything cold or hot that lingers
- Severe pain or dull ache
- Discomfort that may even disturb your sleep at night
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you might need to visit a professional dentist for an evaluation. You should remember that all whites that require root canal treatment are painful. They may be pain-free but still need to undergo the treatment.
Who is an endodontist?
An endodontist is a professional dentist who specializes in root canal treatment. Endodontic is a special branch of dentistry which is specifically concerned with the tooth tissues that surround the root of the tooth. General dentists are also eligible to perform the procedure. However, patients are commonly referred to an endodontist to undergo the treatment, especially if the tooth is highly infected.
Is the treatment painful?
With cutting-edge techniques and varied advanced local anesthetic solutions, patients feel minimum pain or sensation while undergoing root canal treatment. It is normal that for the first few days after the treatment, your tooth will be sensitive to biting. Medications are prescribed to reduce such post-treatment discomfort.
How long does the effect of the treatment last?
This therapeutic treatment of dental restoration is highly successful, say over 95% and it can last a lifetime. In order to make a root canal last long, it is always recommended to get permanent restoration solutions like fillings or crowns on the tooth, right after the treatment. Now, maintaining that restoration with proper hygiene is very important to extend the lifespan of root canal.
Remember that a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment is still vulnerable to infections. So keep your whites healthy with proper brushing and flossing.
Is it safe to undergo the treatment during pregnancy?
When tooth of an individual is highly infected, in most cases it causes extreme pain and root canal treatment becomes necessary, even if the person is pregnant. If it is neglected, the pain will increase. More complications will develop and this may affect the health of the mother and the fetus. There is no reason to avoid the treatment, since it is almost painless.
Inform your dentist about the pregnancy, so that he could take proper precautions while carrying out the procedure. When the dentist is aware about your pregnancy, he will take proper measure while performing X-ray by using a lead apron. It will protect the baby from adverse effect of X-rays. Medications that are commonly prescribed during the treatment are safe for a pregnant woman. Only Tetracycline is avoided as an antibiotic, as it affects proper development of the fetus.
It is important to get in touch with a professional dentist to ensure best possible result of the treatment. An experienced dentist offering root canal treatment will carry out the process deftly, helping you to flaunt a million dollar smile.