What is root canal treatment?
Many people who suffer from toothaches may ask, “What is a root canal? Do I need to have it done?” Well, please read on. Most of the tooth pain is caused by the inflammation of the pulp tissue due to the bacterial infection caused by the deep tooth decay. The treatment of this type of dental disease requires a “root canal” protocol. Let’s learn the following concepts to understand.
1. Root canal.
This is the passage where the nerve and blood vessels travel inside the root of your tooth. Under the X-ray, you can see a thin black line in the middle of the root, which shows the location of the root canal. The number of root canals is not the same as the number of roots. From the incisors to the tigers we call the “anterior zone”, most of the teeth in this area are single roots and single root canals; however, there are exceptions, such as the lateral incisors next to the incisors, which have a high incidence of single roots and double root canals.
The two teeth behind the tigers are the premolars, also called “bicuspids”, which have both single and double roots, and there are many single and double root canals. The back teeth are the large teeth, called “molars”, which are the main chewing area and the most susceptible to dental disease. Most of these large teeth have multiple roots and canals. Because of the backward position and the thin and curved diameter of the root canal, the operation is very complicated and requires more experience and skill.
2. Purpose of root canal treatment.
It is very simple, that is, by removing all the infected material inside the tooth and administering medicine through the root canal in order to eliminate the inflammation, relieve the painful symptoms and restore the function of the affected tooth. Especially for some teeth with necrosis of the pulp or long-standing disease involving the bone tissue at the tip of the root, the method of “root canal treatment” should be used.
3.Treatment steps.
The main work of the first consultation is generally pain relief, mostly under anesthesia to drill the front of the tooth to expose the pulp cavity, the purpose of which is to drain the inflammatory products, reduce the internal pressure of the tooth, so that the pain can be relieved. The second visit is about 2 days apart, and generally the root of the tooth needs to be treated, whether or not to return to the anesthetic depends on the degree of tolerance of the individual. The treatment of the root canal is mainly through some fine metal files, through the reaming file, in order to remove the infected pulp inside the root and expand the diameter of the root canal, so that the later treatment and root filling drugs can be placed smoothly.
This, you can understand that in the tooth to do “cleaning”, the dirt removed, the inflammation can be controlled, spread to the outside of the root will need to seal the root canal to solve the drug. The next treatment, which is usually asymptomatic, will allow the root canal to be filled and finally the tooth will be filled. After the treatment is finished, you need to observe 1-2 weeks, and if there is no further discomfort, you can do the braces. Emphasis on one point: after root canal treatment of the large back teeth, braces must be done for protection, otherwise it is easy to be split by hard objects while eating. Once split, it will need to be extracted, so that the “foregone”!
4, the treatment should be careful to comply with the following issues.
1) You must not eat with the affected tooth;
2) You must follow up on time, unless there is a special change, such as a sudden increase in pain, you can advance;
3) Every person’s tooth situation is not exactly the same, so its complexity must be fully taken into account. Given the highly technical nature of root canal treatment, it is important to visit a regular hospital;
4) Considering the broken teeth after root canal treatment, we sometimes need to stake the tooth before filling it to complete the filling, and we must do set protection after treatment.
5. Several knowledge you need to know (to help you judge whether the doctor you choose is qualified).
1) Before and after root canal treatment, several X-ray examinations are needed, especially before and after root canal filling, to determine whether the root canal preparation and root anastomosis, whether the root filling is in place, and whether the density is in accordance with the requirements.
2) Most of the root canals of posterior teeth are curved and narrowed, and a good hospital should have a “root canal length measuring instrument” to determine whether the root canal is unblocked in place. Root canals that are not completely unblocked near the root tip are destined to be unsuccessful even if root canal treatment is done. Curved root canals require the use of a “nickel-titanium file” (Baidu, I think) during root canal preparation. If your doctor can’t fix a bent root canal, then you need to be careful.
3) If your tooth pain is not significantly controlled after more than 2 treatments, it is best to change doctors or hospitals and get another doctor’s opinion. Remember not to remember my advice until the problem is too severe to be solved, right?
Well, that’s it for the basics of “root canal treatment”. Thank you for reading this article, I believe it will be helpful to you!