The Complete Procedure of Root Canal Therapy

 

You do not have to fear a root canal anymore. Before, dentistry was painful for patients because there were no innovative techniques like today. Thanks to modern dentistry, dental procedures are quick and comfortable for individuals.

Nevertheless, the dentist is not a playroom. Sometimes, you may feel slight pressure when the doctor places devices in your mouth or sensations that you will not find pleasant, but they are not painful.

In this opportunity, we want to discuss the steps of our root canal therapy in Livonia. It is one of the treatments with worse fame, and we will debunk the myths.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure where the dentist removes the pulp because it is infected. If you are afraid of undergoing root canal therapy near you, fear not! We will explain to you the steps below.

1. Diagnosis – It is the most important thing before any dental procedure. The dentist will evaluate the dental piece with x-rays and other methods. They will perform a vitality test with a cotton ball immersed in cold spray. If there are no symptoms (but you have an infection), you probably have necrosis. If you feel intense pain, you have irreversible pulpitis. In both cases, you need a root canal.
2. The anesthetic – If you have necrosis, the doctor will still use a local anesthetic. In some cases, there is a bit of vital pulp inside that may cause pain, and the clamp is uncomfortable without numb medication. The doctor will inject it in the area (usually Lidocaine) and wait a few minutes for its effect.
3. Tooth isolation – The dental piece must be dry to prevent further contamination. Our endodontic dentist in Livonia uses small files to remove necrotic tissue, and a patient can swallow them without a dental dam. Due to these reasons, we place a clamp around the tooth with a rubber dam for isolation.
4. Root canal treatment – The root canal is a part of the tooth. It is the inner area of the roots, where the nerve is. The dentist performs the treatment in these canals. They use special devices to remove the pulp ad necrotic tissue and disinfect it with Sodium Hypochlorite. The irrigation is vital, and it should be one minute per conduct and no less. Studies show that a 5,25% concentration is the best to eliminate organic tissue and bacteria.
5. Sealing – After disinfecting, the dentist must dry the canals excellently before placing the filling material. The latter is a biocompatible one called Gutta-percha. The doctor inserts it with cement inside and condenses it against the walls for optime sealing. 
6. Tooth restoration – Once the sealing with Gutta-percha is complete, there are two options. If you have enough dental structure, the doctor may restore the tooth with a dental filling. However, a piece that requires a root canal is very damaged; therefore, it needs a more resistant material (composite resin does not withstand heavy forces). A porcelain dental crown is excellent for these cases. The doctor will then take a mold of your tooth for it and send it to a dental laboratory. In the meantime, they will place a temporary material to seal the piece and prevent bacteria from leaking.
7. Permanent dental crown – In another appointment with a prosthodontic dentist near you, they will remove the temporary cement and place the porcelain dental crown over the tooth. The crown will strengthen the tooth and give its aesthetic back. You will look and feel natural and motivated to take better care of your smile!