Do You Need a Root Canal?

The moment we hear the term ‘root canal’, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘pain’. We have grown up listening about this dental procedure and the only thing that we can clearly recall are the mentions of unbearable pain. We may not know much about the procedure, but we know it causes discomfort and we know most believe shudder at the thought of undergoing it. Well, root canals are also known as endodontist therapy which becomes necessary when the nerve or pulp of the tooth becomes infected due to decay, damage, crack or breakage of the tooth. The treatment also becomes necessary when the tooth has become inflamed or damaged due to some injury. The dentist who does the root canal will first drill to remove both the pulp and nerve and then seal up the tooth to save against further damage. These days, dental technology has advanced to a great extent and root canals have become less painful procedures. But yes, some pain is obvious when you go for this therapy. In fact, pain is the most common symptom that indicates the need for this treatment. The pain can be mild or severe or in between. More so, the pain that signifies the need of root canal can vary throughout the day, worsening when one bites something on the tooth. Sensitivity to hot foods or liquids is also common among some patients and the gums may also turn tender or get swollen at the affected site. The treatment will start depending on the severity of the problem but yes, you can apply ice to the jaw from the outside to soothe and pain and lessen the swelling in the meanwhile. But yes, you must consult the dentist immediately to get rid of the issue. The dentist will first examine the tooth and don x-rays to diagnose the cause of the problem. He/she will recommend the treatment only after proper examination and may refer to an endodontist. The treatment will start with the dentist administering local anesthesia on the affected site to keep the pain to a minimum possible level. After that, pulpectomy is done where an opening is made into the tooth to remove the diseased tooth. The opened root is then filled with the right material and then the opening is sealed to let the tooth return back to being normal. You should however not worry about root canal treatment cost in Chennai as anyone can afford that easily. The focus should instead be on taking good oral care after the procedure and doing regular dental visit to get done cleaning and examinations by expert dentists only. It’s also necessary to avoid chewing on hard foods unless the healing is done properly. Else, there might be chances of breakage or damage to the teeth. You can clearly see how a root canal is an important therapy and it should get done in a timely manner to not let the infected tooth grow in intensity and cause further damages ever.