What is a root canal treatment?
A root canal is a treatment used to repair a tooth that’s extremely decayed or infected. A root canal treatment is painless and it can be used to save a tooth that could otherwise have been completely removed. Root canal treatment is pain-free sleep dentistry treatment which is only done by an experienced dentist.
The tooth canal can be infected by bacteria that lie in the mouth and attack the tooth. This can happen due to tooth decay, leaky fillings, and damage to the teeth due to trauma, such as falls.
When is a root canal needed?
The root canal is only needed when a dental X-rays show a bacterial infection has damaged the pulp. The pulp will die if it gets infected by bacteria, making the bacteria to increase and spread. Some of the symptoms of a pulp infection include:
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Pain when eating or drinking cold or hot food and drink
- A loose tooth
As the infection progresses, these symptoms usually disappear as the pulp dies. The tooth may appear to have healed, but the infection could have spread through the root canal system. And you may get further symptoms such as
- Swelling of the gum near the affected tooth
- Facial swelling
- Pain when chewing or biting returning
- The affected tooth becomes dark in color
If you develop toothache, it’s important to see your dentist because if the tooth is infected, the pulp won’t heal by itself. You may make the situation worse if you leave the infected tooth in your mouth.
How root canal treatment is done
The bacteria must be removed to treat the root canal infection. This can be performed by either root canal treatment [removing the bacteria from the root canal system] or tooth extraction [removal of the tooth].
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In most cases, a tooth extraction is not usually recommended because it’s good to keep your natural teeth as much as you can. Once the bacteria have been removed, the root canal is filled and the tooth is sealed using a crown or filling. A local anesthetic is usually given before the root canal treatment procedure commences, making the procedure painless.
One of the best ways patients can reach out to dentists for further inquiries is through social media. That’s why dentists need to focus on promoting dentistry on social media.
Root canal treatment and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]
Post-traumatic stress disorder can hurt more than the mind. It can also take a toll on the body. PTSD can specifically increase the potential for oral-facial [orofacial] pain. And being that over 30 million people in the U.S. have PTSD, dentists are more likely to see its impact in some of their patients.
Many studies have shown that PTSD is related to higher levels of orofacial pain. Some people can directly exhibit facial injury related to a traumatic event. Some people can also suffer physical aggression that’s culminated with tooth fracture, leading to root canal treatment.
