ONE SITTING ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

The only other option if you do not want to go for the root canal treatment is to have the whole tooth extracted/removed. However it is always best to try and save the natural tooth. Root canal treatment is a routine procedure and has a very high success rate (over 95%). Saving the natural tooth can prevent other dental problems later on like migration of the teeth in the empty space, supra eruption of the tooth from the opposite arch, difficulty in eating, bone loss and replacement of the missing tooth.

This is a misconception that root canals are painful, but the truth is they are not. It is very important for you to understand that infection in the tooth is the cause of the pain, as the infection involves the nerves of the teeth leading to their inflammation which in turn causes pain/sensitivity. Root canal treatment actually relieves this pain. So it is right to say that the disease/ infection should be blamed and not the treatment. The procedure is done under local anesthieas .so there is no pain during the treatment.

If proper expertise, materials and sterilization is used for the root canal treatment the tooth can carry on functioning normally for 15 to 20 years. Since we, at ‘Smile Delhi – The Dental Clinic’ can vouch for all the three mentioned factors, our success rate in the last 19 years of our practice is 98% and the tooth last easily for 15 to 20 years.

With the advancement in dentistry, single sitting RCT is popular these days. Single sitting RCT is done when there is no periapical infection. Endodontists are specialists for this procedure. The treatment is completed in one sitting. The procedure takes about 45 minutes- 1 hour.

Certain antibiotics can be helpful in reducing the amount of pain and infection in a tooth but they are by no means a solution. Once the infection has reached the nerves of the tooth and the nerve is damaged it will need to be treated by an endodontic, root canal therapy. The antibiotic can only reduce the symptoms but will not treat the cause.  Unless the cause of the infection (Infected nerve) is removed the pain will keep coming back.

There are a few things for you to keep in mind when eating after root canal treatments:

• Just after the root canal is completed, do not eat anything till the anaesthetic affect wears out.
• Eat on the opposite side to the tooth that has been worked on, after the anaesthetic affect worn off.
• Chew slowly so that you do not risk the food ending up on the side you are avoiding.
• Just after the root canal procedure is done you should avoid hot drink to prevent burning or biting your lip or tongue like hot tea, coffee etc. as the tooth is still under the anaesthetic affect

Avoid biting on hard foods like ice, nuts crunchy foods such as apples, carrots, till the crown/cap is fixed on this tooth. If one does not follow this the root canal tooth can fracture/chip off since it is now brittle (as the nerve has been removed).

You can eat as soon as the effect of the anaesthesia wears off. Waiting until the numbness wears off, will prevent you from biting your tongue or cheek. Until your root canal procedure is finished and the crown is cemented, is advisable to do not chew/ have very soft food with the tooth under treatment to avoid damaging it.

You can avoid the need for root canal treatment by keeping in mind the following things:

• Visit your dentist regularly twice a year for professional cleanings and examination. This is important as dental problem remains silent for a long time. A cavity in a tooth will only give pain if it has reached the nerve of the tooth (then the tooth needs a root canal).
• Brush and floss your teeth twice a day, Post breakfast and post dinner.
• Rinse your mouth every time you eat or snack in between the meals, to remove any food stuck in the mouth immediately.
• Eat a healthy diet low in sugar, high in fiber and avoid acidic beverages such as sodas, sugary drinks etc.
• If you actively participate in sports, consider wearing a mouth guard/ sports guard to protect your teeth from injury.