[Oral Health#11] HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR TOOTH NEEDS A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?
Hello my dear Steemers!!!
I suppose Everyone of us is familiar with the term "Root Canal Treatment". But have you ever wondered why in the first place do you need a Root Canal Treatment or simply RCT? What does an RCT do that it eliminates the tooth pain? Come then, lets begin our journey into the deep microscopic canals of the tooth.
What is a Root Canal and RCT?
The Root Canal are the inner passages of the Root portion of tooth which contains blood vessels and nerves (aka pulp) of that tooth. This pulp serves the purpose of providing food and sensation at the time of tootb development and after the complete tooth development, serves the main purpose of conducting stimulus from the teeth like hot or cold or hard biting.
RCT is the procedure done to remove these contents of Root Canal in order to treat the diseased tooth involving its pulp. Simply Put, it renders your teeth PAINLESS for the rest of its life.
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Causes for Root Canal Procedure
- Decay; The Decay by the bacteria upto the pulp level causes pain.
- Disease; The swelling from infection of tooth can lead to some pathology at the tip of the root which are removed by Root Canal.
- Damage; The damage can be any trauma to the tooth like chipping or breakage of tooth due to some accident which are painful.
- Fixed Bridge Prosthesis, etc.
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What are the SIGNS that you need a Root Canal Treatment?
- Severe Toothache or Pain.
- Swelling or tenderness in the Gums.
- Prolonged Sensitivity to hot and cold liquids.
- A small bump in the Gums area of the aching tooth sometimes with some sour discharge (pus) from that bump.
- Discolouration or Darkening of Tooth.
- Pain on chewing or applying pressure on the carious tooth.
Not all the Teeth having Pain require RCT and Not all the Teeth requiring RCT have Pain.
According to american Academy of Endodontists, The most common symptom that may indicate the need for a root canal is tooth pain. The intensity of the pain can range from mild to severe; it may lessen or intensify throughout the day, or it may get worse only when you bite down on the tooth.
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The Tooth Pain that increases in the intensity on lying down is the most common indication of RCT
Diagnostic Tests for the Tooth if it needs RCT
In order to fully reach to the final diagnosis that the tooth requires the RCT, the dentist performs some Tests which are as;
- Thermal (hot and cold)Test,
- Percussion (Tapping)Test,
- Electric pulp testing and
- X-ray evaluation (conventional and/or cone beam computed tomography).
Is the RCT procedure Painful?
Most of you might have undergone this procedure and would be well aware of the procedure of RCT. It is a stepvise procedure which begins by numbing your tooth by the Anesthesia. The Anesthesia wards off all the Pain of the procedure and is totally Safe provided some allergic reactions previously.
**The RCT is Painless throughtout the whole procedure.
The Numbing of the tooth can be done by a number or techniques like Numbing the Nerve to the tooth, Numbing the whole Jaw, etc.
What are the general steps in the RCT?
The RCT can be a Multi-visit Procedure or Single-visit Procedure depending upon many factors. However, in both the procedures the Steps are common. After the dentist has reached to a final diagnosis, these steps are performed on the tooth;
- Anesthesia This causes the aching tooth to become numb so that you won't feel a thing during the procedure(Sleeping Tooth). It can be done by number of methods however 💉 method is common.
Fun Fact! Look for various kinds of Funny Videos on YouTube regarding patients talking immediately after the dental Procedure.
Drilling The Root Canals are drilled by Rotor which also cleans off the decayed portion of the tooth. The infected Pulp is taken out and the Root canals are cleaned off and Washed properly.
Filling The Root Canals are filled with inert material so that no further infection remains or grows in the Tooth. The properly Closed Environment is the must for the longevity of the RCT.
Finishing Up The Drilled and excavated tooth is Restored with a Crown 👑 which restores the function of the tooth.
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Do RCTs Work?
A survey shows that almost 95% of the Root Canal Treated patients have a successful procedure with tooth lasting almost for the rest of the life time. Pain of the Tooth with the above causes is mostly relieved by RCT.
My Thoughts!!!
The Tooth Pain is one of the most undesirable and irritating Pain. It can be shooting, and pulsating pain which may sometimes involve whole of the jaw or even head. Thus the care should be taken in order to prevent the tooth and yourself from such anguish.
Now if the pain did happen, don't avoid visiting your dentist or take medicines on your own. The thing with medicine is that, it just ceases the growth of infection temporarily and makes the pain go away for that time. But it doesn't treats the basic problem of the tooth. Thus after a week or few the infection reappears and now with more severity and Pain. If The condition is Overlooked, the infection can spread to the surrounding areas causing swelling, Pain and Restricted or Painful Mouth Opening.
Dentistry is not Expensive, Neglect is.
The Best is to go to a dentist and undergo a proper treatment regarding that tooth. Now the thing after the RCT is performed, if care is taken the tooth will remain for the rest of his life without even extracting it. However, for that to happen a Crown or Cap of the Tooth is Must for proper functioning of tooth. There have been many patients coming to me regarding post RCT failures or Fractures but in almost all of those cases, they didn't had their RCT tooth restored with Crown.
So it is better to be cautious than sorry which will even cost you some good money if overlooked. Brush, Floss and Dental Visits are Must for the proper and overall health of your oral cavity.
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So this is it for Tonight...
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Crest
Colgate
Animated Teeth
Webmd
My Previous Post
My Day at the Oral Surgery Clinics
Till next time.
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very good post. people i.e. non medical need such education.
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Root canals are not always the right answer....
https://www.systemicdentist.com/the-root-canal-breast-cancer-connection/
Root canals are still better than removal of tooth. But a Root Canal Treatment should be done properly so that it can endure life time. I have seen cases with Root Canal Treatment done some decades ago and still are without any infection. The infected Root Canal has many causes and it is not the Dentist always.
The Case study you have referred to is just one case with no scientific proof of the same and till now, no conclusive study has shown such connection. It could be some other infection or cause.
I too believe Root Canals are not always the right answer but when it is, IT IS the only Best Answer (far better than Tooth Removal).
I beg to differ. A systemic infection or cancer is never better than tooth removal. Science often does not find etiology - this does not mean that root canals are not the cause. It is interesting that many dentists have written about these issues not just one.
I too believe a systemic infection or Cancer is never better than tooth removal. But relating root canal for Breast Cancer without scientific proof by merely saying or hearing it doesn't make it one. It is Like saying Broke my tooth and got Brain Tumor. Anyone can assume anything but it is the proof (science and research) that correctly relates to it not Assumptions.
I wish I could say that science is never flawed or fudged and that it's interpretation of statistical data patterns are absolutely accurate (by a human mind - that could not possibly have flawed understanding?!). Additionally, I wish that the reductionist approach did not create limitations and huge confounding factors along with experimenter bias. Science gives an indication and associations are not causation. Indeed, causation is not proof, causation has been wholly inaccurate decades later when a more wholistic world view is adopted and interpretation is widened based on data that was discarded or a broader understanding when less compartmentalization is in play. You see science is not any proof of anything at all - science is exploration based on the current worldview. It is usurped when the worldview changes as has been done over and over again. Unless some old beliefs inherently are still present. It is based on the interpretation of the scientist, based on their world view, therefore science does not give us definitive answers. The book by Rupert Sheldrake - Science Set Free is an excellent resource. Science assumes the body is static and information is static but the body is not static it is dynamic and so is everything else in the Universe. It is indeed humbling when we realize we know very little about nature, our bodies and the cosmos.
Stop using fluoride toothpaste and swill every so often with coconut oil. I have not been to the dentist in over the years :)
Good for you...The Genetics very much play a role in the health of tooth. I also have seen guys with no pain or tooth decay even though they never have touched a toothbrush. But you have no pain or decay doesn't mean it applies for all. Moreover, you dont have decay or pain doesn't mean you have good oral health, so many gums problems are also there which doesnt give you pain but may lead to problems afterwards.
From my experience of dentist they are only after money! The first filling I had came out twice and in total cost me nearly £200, Maybe there different else where but in the UK its a rip off sponsored by big pharma :)
This might be the case but it is the secondary Question. I always tell my patients,
Maybe your right. But density in the UK cost a fortune most people can't afford it and get in debt paying for treatments that are not necessary !
Yea it has many reasons, dental insurance being the top most. Where many medical conditions and treatments are fully covered in the insurance. Dental insurance covers only parts and that too after rigorous fight with the insurance company. Infact, Dental Insurance is a hypothetical term which should be named benefits of Insurance Company appropriately. I have written a post about the same.
Moreover,debt reminded me of one thing Dental Students have with them lifelong and that is debt of Loans for their Degree in the dental school which is pretty much expensive so that they spend their lives to reimburse the bank the pending money which never becomes zero balance.
Well I doing ok at the mo without floruide quite happy without a pesticide in my mouth :)
Hahahaha...😂 Good for you!!!
I am pretty sure my husband needs it but he isn't agreeing to get it. Is there any alternative for that?
Alternative for Root Canal; Well it is Tooth Removal (highly not Recommended now a days). I suppose you motivate him for the RCT and save the natural tooth, coz no prosthesis can compete with natural tooth. Tell him, RCT mai kam trauma and bleeding hoti hai than Extractions aur former is much better.
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