A root canal is a hole in the center of the root of your tooth. The pulp or pulp chamber is a delicate area within the root canal that contains the nerves of the tooth. A root canal treatment procedure used to preserve teeth whose pulp or pulp chamber has been affected by decay, trauma, or other factors that cause inflammation and can lead to infection. This procedure removes the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels, and then the inside of the tooth is cleaned and closed.
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Part 1 of 3: Understanding the Procedure
Step 1. Learn why the pulp needs to be extracted
When the pulp in your tooth is damaged, bacteria and other decay products can settle and damage the area of the tooth and cause an infection or abscess. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads beyond the tip of the tooth root and destroys the bone. In addition to an abscess, infection of the root canal of a tooth can cause:
- Swelling on the face
- Swelling in the head or neck
- Bone loss at the root of the tooth
- Drainage problem
- Damage to the jawbone that may require surgery.
- Oral bacteria have been linked to many serious medical conditions, such as heart disease such as endocarditis.
Step 2. Know the process
This process consists of the following steps:
- After the X-ray shows the shape of the root canal to determine the symptoms of infection around the bone, you will be given a rubber dam (rubber sheet) around the tooth. This dam keeps the area dry and drool-free during the treatment thereby preventing bacteria from reaching the area.
- Your dentist or dental surgeon will drill holes into your teeth. The pulp, bacteria, debris, and any decay or residual nerve tissue will be removed using a root canal file. The doctor will use water or sodium hypochlorite periodically to remove debris and disinfect the roots.
- After the cleaning process is complete, the dentist will apply a sealant tape. If there is an infection in the tooth, the doctor can wait up to a week or two. If you don't get a root canal on the same day, the dentist will put a temporary filling into the hole to protect it from contamination until a root canal is given.
- On the day of your appointment, your dentist or dental surgeon will seal the inside of the tooth with sealing paste and fill the root canal with a rubber compound called Gutta-percha. The doctor will also insert a filling into the tooth to close the hole caused by decay. This prevents further bacterial invasion. This filling is the most important part of a long-lasting root canal treatment.
Step 3. Kill any remaining bacteria after the dentist inserts the filling
You will likely be prescribed antibiotics to treat previous infections or prevent new ones.
Step 4. Install the new crown to complete the procedure
Teeth that have root canals are no longer alive and the enamel will be porous. Therefore, the dentist will protect it with a crown, crown and post, or another method of tooth restoration.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing the Root Canal
Step 1. Don't make hasty decisions
If you are sitting in the dentist's chair under another treatment and are advised to have a root canal and it must be done now, don't. You should not make decisions under duress unless absolutely necessary. Say that you want to discuss it after your appointment or at a later date after you've thought about and researched the procedure.
In some cases, there may be no other solution, especially if you have been in pain for a few days, and don't want to delay treatment
Step 2. Ask questions
Once you have time to think and do your research, your mind will be very calm during and after the procedure because you already know how the doctor thinks about this procedure and what the doctor will do. Have any questions you have and ask for answers before sitting in the dentist's chair. Your questions can cover a variety of topics, for example:
- Is this procedure really necessary?
- Can my tooth heal without a root canal procedure?
- Can you (the doctor) perform this procedure, or should I see a specialist?
- How many appointments must be made?
- Can I return to work after the procedure? How about tomorrow?
- How much does this procedure cost?
- What will happen if I don't get a root canal? Will the infection spread? Will my teeth break?
- How urgent is my situation? Can you wait a month? Does the procedure have to be done immediately?
- Are there alternative methods currently available to heal my teeth?
- What happens if bacteria are not 100% eradicated before the tooth is closed?
Step 3. Tell your doctor that you are nervous about this procedure
If pain scares you, be honest and forthright. Clinics and physician assistants can make this procedure as comfortable as possible for you.
Step 4. Consider anesthetic options
It may be that the anxiety at the thought that you are going to visit the dentist is more severe than just discomfort or nervousness. If you experience more than acute anxiety, there are four anesthetics dentists use today to help relieve this condition. In three cases, this method also required local anesthesia to reduce pain during the procedure. These types of anesthesia are:
- Oral sedative. This anesthetic can be used from the night before the procedure until 30-60 minutes before. This anesthetic will relieve anxiety before the injection of a local anesthetic to relieve pain.
- Intravenous (IV) sedatives. This anesthetic relieves anxiety in the same way as an oral sedative. An injection of local anesthetic before the procedure will relieve pain.
- Nitric oxide sedative. This gas (also known as laughter gas) is an inhaled sedative that produces a relaxed state. Local anesthetic injections are given simultaneously to relieve pain.
- General anesthesia. This is the anesthetic used to produce unconsciousness. Local anesthesia is not required if the patient is unconscious.
Part 3 of 3: Going through the Procedure
Step 1. Tell your dentist if you have any pain
During the procedure, you should not feel any pain. If you feel a hunch, even if it's just a slight prick, tell your doctor and he or she will adjust the local anesthetic so that the pain subsides as soon as possible. Modern dentists have completely eliminated almost all possible pains.
You may feel a short impulse as the file passes through the tip of the root in the bone. This is a sign that the entire root canal has been cleaned and the dentist can calculate the exact length of the root
Step 2. Practice Meditation
You are required to keep your mouth open for several hours so it is best to keep your mind busy during the procedure. If you are good at meditating, you will benefit from being unable to feel anything during the procedure
- Try guided imagination meditation. Imagining yourself in a calming environment is a great way to meditate in the dentist's chair. Imagine a place that is peaceful and still, such as a sandy beach or the top of a mountain. Provide details: the sights, sounds, and smells. Before long, these peaceful shadows will replace the world around you so you relax and unwind.
- Deep breathing exercises are another great way to take your mind off your current situation.
- Some doctors also use hypnosis to relax patients, although this method does not always work.
Step 3. Bring electronic devices
You can distract yourself by listening to music during the procedure. Your attention will be occupied by the favorite tune of your favorite song.
- Audiobooks from your favorite authors can make time pass you by. You can also choose to study subjects that have not been studied. You have a few hours, so make the most of it.
- Your favorite radio broadcast is also a great way to distract yourself.
Step 4. Prepare to feel numb
Local anesthesia (assuming you don't choose general anesthesia) is quite strong. The anesthetized area will be numb not only during the procedure, but also for the next few hours. Be careful when chewing because you could bite your tongue or cheek without realizing it.
- The impact of local anesthetics on each person is different. Be careful about your physical condition before deciding to drive or attend an important business meeting.
- Also make sure you eat something before you get to the doctor's office as anesthetics can cause nausea if your stomach is empty.
Step 5. Know that pain is normal
Your tooth may hurt for 2-3 days after the procedure. However, it is also normal for you to experience no pain at all. Your tooth will hurt more if it had an infection or inflammation prior to root canal administration.
Step 6. Monitor your pain after the procedure
There may still be pain but it is not severe, especially after 24 hours. If there is still pain, contact your doctor or endodontist immediately because it can be a symptom of a bigger postoperative problem.
Step 7. Avoid chewing on the treated side until the crown settles on the tooth
You can use commercial pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the discomfort.
Step 8. Know that your procedure may be terminated
Root canals, like any other medical procedure, have conditions that require the procedure to be discontinued. During the procedure, the doctor may find that the procedure is unsafe and worth continuing. The reasons are varied, but some of them are:
- One of the dental instruments broke inside the tooth.
- Your root canal is calcified. This is the “natural root canal”, your body's way of performing the procedure on its own.
- Tooth fracture. This makes the procedure unfinished because the fracture will deteriorate the integrity of the tooth even after the root canal has been completed.
- If the root of your tooth is curved, there is no guarantee that the tooth can be cleaned to the tip of the root. Since the entire canal has to be cleaned, this situation has to be addressed and the procedure has to be put on hold for a while.
- If this is the case, discuss your options, and as before, take 1-2 days to research and consider alternatives before calling the dentist
Tips
- If your nerves die, anesthesia may not be necessary, but most doctors still provide anesthesia to the area to relax and calm the patient.
- The cost of the procedure varies depending on the severity of the problem and the tooth affected. Many dental insurance policies cover endodontic treatment. Make sure first before undergoing treatment
- Root canal treatment has a 95% success rate. Many teeth that are healed with a canal can last a lifetime. However, there are also those who last quite a while.
- You should keep your natural teeth as much as possible. If a tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth can bend and press against each other. In addition, keeping teeth natural will save on expensive maintenance and treatment costs.
