Definition of Root Canal Treatment and What to Expect

You might be asking yourself whether you need a root canal treatment if you have been experiencing problems with your teeth. Root canals in Downtown Toronto are performed by dentists or endodontics when the nerve or pulp of the tooth becomes infected. Also, when inflamed due to a broken or cracked tooth, dental decay, or an injury to the tooth.

These things usually cause pain in your tooth, leaving you looking for ways to get much-needed relief. If your dentist in Downtown Toronto recommends you get a root canal treatment, this guide will help you know what root canal treatment is and what to expect during and after the procedure.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

A root canal is a treatment procedure that helps treat an infection located at the centre of a tooth. This procedure is not painful and helps save a tooth that could have been eradicated.

When is Root Canal Treatment Needed

This procedure is needed when dental x-rays show that a bacterial infection damages your pulp. The pulp becomes inflamed when infected by bacteria allowing the bacteria to multiply and spread. Some of the symptoms of a pulp infection include:

• Pain when chewing or biting
• Having a loose tooth
• Experiencing pain when drinking or eating cold or hot food or drink
• A recurring or persistent pimple on your gums
• Tenderness in the neighboring gums

As the infection progresses, these symptoms often disappear as the pulp dies. Your tooth will appear healed, but the infection spreads through the root canal system. You will then get other symptoms such as:

• The gums near the affected tooth will start swelling
• Pus oozing from the affected tooth
• A swollen jaw or cheek
• Experiencing when chewing or biting will return
• The tooth will have a darker color

It’s essential to visit your dentist for endodontic treatment if you develop toothache because when the tooth is infected, the pulp cannot heal by itself. Also, leaving the infected tooth in your mouth may make it worse. However, there may be less chance of a root canal treatment working if an infection within the tooth becomes established.

The Root Canal Treatment Procedure

Root canal treatment requires two visits to our dentist in Rusholme Family Dentistry, which specializes in treating teeth’ dental pulp. The treatment will include the following steps:

The first step involves your dentist taking an X-ray to see the root canal’s shape. The X-ray also helps determine whether there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. Your dentist will then administer local anesthesia to numb the surrounding gums and the tooth.

You’ll feel a pinch during the injection, but it’ll be for a moment. The dentist might place a small sheet of rubber on your tooth, isolating it to keep it dry and clean during the procedure.

Your Little Italy dentist or endodontist will use small tools to access your tooth’s inside after creating an opening in the tooth’s top portion.

Next, small files are used by the dentist to clear away the infected pulp from the inside of your tooth. The files will also shape the inner chamber of the root and tooth and might irrigate the section with water.

The purpose of irrigation is to ensure no infected pulp is left. The dentist might also use an antimicrobial solution to kill any remaining bacteria and reduce the risk of further infection.

Once the dentist cleans and dries the chamber thoroughly, they will fit it with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material. Finally, your dentist places a temporary filling to close the tooth opening that they’ve made while you wait for a permanent crown.

After a few weeks, your dentist will complete the treatment by placing a permanent crown on the tooth. Depending on your tooth’s condition, the dentist may place a small post in the root chamber to support the crown and make it more stable.

What to Expect After the Procedure

You should maintain good oral hygiene after the root canals in Downtown Toronto, by brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing daily at home. It would help if you also visited your dentist near you regularly for dental cleanings and exams. With a proper oral routine, your tooth treated with a root canal can stay healthy for a lifetime.