There are some terms that are synonymous with the dental industry, and there’s no doubt that root canals fall into said category. This is a treatment that really has been there and worn the t-shirt, if that phrases is relevant in dentistry, and is known to pretty much everyone who has set foot in the surgery.
At the same time, while most of us have a decent understanding of why root canal treatment is carried out, the actual “how” isn’t quite as well-known. Even if you regularly visit your Aetna dentist, you probably don’t know exactly how he or she tackles this form of popular treatment.
Bearing the above in mind, we’re now going to take a look at the process in detail. Next time you are scheduled in for the procedure, prepare yourself for the following.
The numbing stage
It’s the simplest part to explain, but also one of the most important. Even if you know very little about root canals, something you will be familiar with is that they can be almightily painful. As such, a numbing agent will be immediately applied to your teeth to aid with this.
The opening stage
From this stage on, things get a little more painful. Your dentist will now create an opening through the top of the tooth, in a bid to remove the damaged area. On a lot of occasions the infected area will be sterilized in order to completely cure it.
The filling stage
Now the dentist has carved a hole in your tooth, it should go without saying that they’re not going to leave you in such a condition. They, or maybe an endodontist, will start to fill the area.
This part of the process can certainly vary between surgeries. For example, some dentists might just temporary fill the tooth as they wait for a permanent crown, while others may already have the latter prepared. In relation to the crown, this tends to be made of porcelain for durability reasons.
The after effects
It might sound painful in writing – we’re not going to try and hide this factor. However, it’s worth remembering that the root canal treatment has been hugely common for years, and the risks associated with it are few and far between.
Any dentist you subscribe to this treatment with will provide you aftercare instructions anyway, with most involving temporarily pain relief for the period when the numbing agent as worn off. A lot of the times such medication can be sought over-the-counter, so it’s not overly potent but will still make the following days much more comfortable.
In relation to eating, it’s a good idea to wait until the numbing agent has worn off before turning to food. This is because you might not have complete control over your mouth, which may result in you biting your cheek or tongue.
By the end of the process, and this involves the final crown that is fitted, a root canal will last for as long as your natural teeth. Considering it’s a synthetic replacement, this is hugely impressive and why the treatment has survived the test of time.