DENTAL HEALTH...Root Canal Therapy – Why is it necessary?

DENTAL HEALTH…Root Canal Therapy – Why is it necessary?

Jun 12, 2016 News

By Dr. NerominiFagu

When your tooth becomes severely damaged or infected, there are two treatment options your dentist

Dr. NerominiFagu

will offer – extraction or root canal therapy (RCT). It is not always possible to save a tooth with RCT especially if there is extensive decay or root fracture. For RCT to be done, there needs to be a certain amount of remaining tooth structure for the placement of a final restoration, otherwise the tooth would have to be extracted.
This week we will begin a series of discussions onRCT. There are probably few other dental procedures that conjure up more fear and anxiety than the dreaded words from your dentist that a tooth will need RCT.
Well, I am hoping that after our discussion you will more understand the procedure and be better prepared when it becomes a necessary treatment option for you. The main thing that you should be aware of is that root canal therapy does not cause pain but instead relieves it and it is also a way of saving your tooth.
The dental terminology for root canal therapy is endodontics. The word “endodontic” comes from the Greek “endo”, meaning inside and “odont” meaning tooth. Endodontics is the treatment of the diseased or infected dental pulp (nerves of the tooth).
The dentist who specializes in root canal therapy is called an endodontist. Most general dentists are very capable of performing root canal therapiesand will usually refer complicated cases to a specialist.
There are several reasons why your dentist might suggest you need RCT, with the most common reason being a decayed tooth that has an infected pulp. In this case, even though you might want to do a filling, that is not the most suitable treatment option. Many times patients think that their decayed tooth can be filled, especially if they are not experiencing any pain on the tooth. This is not always the case and a proper history of the tooth is needed. Putting a filling on a tooth with a diseased pulp will do more harm than good.
In addition to deep decay, a tooth might become inflamed or infected because of repeated dental procedures on the tooth, faulty crowns, or a crack or chip in the tooth. Also, trauma to a tooth may cause damage to the pulp even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
The RCT procedure is very similar to having a routine tooth-filling and usually can be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth. There are many reasons to try and save your tooth with RCT and these include:
· Being able to maintain efficient chewing
· Protecting other teeth from excessive wear or strain
· Having normal biting force and sensation
· Natural appearance
Some of the signs to look for that might indicate a tooth needs RCT are:
· Spontaneous pain
· Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
· Tenderness to touch and chewing
· Discoloration of the tooth
· Swelling, drainage and tenderness in nearby bone and gum tissues
Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms. You should not put off doing a root canal even if the tooth stops hurting. It is wishful thinking to hope for the pulp to heal on its own. As the pulp dies, the canals and chamber of the tooth may become calcified as the tooth tries to protect itself by laying down more dentine. This calcification may make RCT at a later date more complicated as the location, negotiation and enlargement of canals will be more difficult.
For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

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