Root canal treatment is usually carried out by a dentist. But if your tooth is difficult to treat, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist. This is a dentist who specialises in root canal treatment.
Your dentist will examine you and ask about your symptoms, including any pain you’re experiencing. They may also ask you about your medical history and any previous treatment you’ve had on your teeth.
As well as this, your dentist will take an X-ray of your tooth. This can help to show which tooth is causing pain and needs treatment, and how far any infection has spread. The X-ray is necessary for your dentist to make sure that your tooth isn’t too badly damaged for root canal treatment.
Although some root canal treatments can be completed within one appointment, most are done over two or more sessions with your dentist.
Absolutely, root canal treatment (RCT) is a safe and reliable form of dental procedure used globally for the purpose of saving natural teeth. With modern techniques and technology, the procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and is virtually painless for the patient.
Absolutely, a tooth can be extracted even after having a dental root canal. Extraction is generally a last resort situation once a tooth has reached a point in restoration that it cannot be saved due to severe damage, infection, or fracture. Dentists advise keeping the RCT tooth as long as possible, as that keeps natural teeth in function and can help to prevent the loss of jawbone.
People need tooth canal treatment when the inner pulp of the tooth becomes infected, inflamed, or damaged due to deep cavities, repeated dental procedures, cracks, or trauma. Without treatment, this infection can spread and cause severe pain or abscesses. RCT dental helps save the tooth, relieve pain, and restore normal chewing function, avoiding the need for extraction.
Contrary to common belief, a root canal is not as painful as many assume. With local anaesthesia and advanced dental methods, patients typically feel little to no pain during the procedure. After the dental root canal, there may be mild soreness for a few days, which can be managed with prescribed medication. The treatment itself is designed to relieve pain, not cause it.
In most instances, a root canal (RCT tooth) is superior to having to extract it. The ideal course of action is to hold on to the natural dentition because doing so preserves chewing function, alignment of the jaws, and general oral health. Extraction can be a more economical choice, but when you consider the price of RCT in relation to dental implants or bridges suggested after the extraction, the root canal treatment cost is typically more economical. Dentists always prefer to try to save the tooth with RCT treatment if there is any chance to do so.