PAINLESS RCT

PAINLESS RCT

I am a firm believer that root canal treatment does not always have to be associated with pain and discomfort.As an endodontist, I strive to provide my patients with a comfortable and painless RCT experience usually completed in a single sitting. The purpose of a root canal treatment is to save a tooth which is badly infected or decayed. This includes treating the pain, infection and swelling associated with the dental decay. With this treatment, the tooth is retained and saved rather than extracting or losing it.

Dental decay or caries when left untreated spreads further into the tooth structure reaching the pulp or nerve of the tooth. This leads to pain and discomfort. Whenever a patient complains of pain in a carious tooth it indicates the pulp or nerve is involved. In such cases, a simple filling is not sufficient and is indicative for a root canal therapy.

If such cases are left untreated then the decay or infection spreads deeper into the tissues from the pulp to the surrounding periodontium. This includes the gums, periodontal ligaments, and the alveolar bone. This causes severe pain and swelling in the gums and causes abscess formation, with pus drainage in some cases. In extreme cases, the dental infection can spread to the jaw bone and cause a fistula or sinus through the skin or a space-occupying infection or cellulitis in the head and neck region.

Procedure or Steps Involved

  1. After the initial clinical and radiographic examination, adequate anaesthesia is administered in the region of the infected tooth.
  2. Than the caries and infection is completely removed from the tooth and the access to the pulp chamber or the nerve of the tooth is obtained.
  3. Following this the root canals are thoroughly cleaned and washed with medication and an antiseptic solution.
  4. After this an inert or tissue compatible material is used to completely fill and seal the canals and do the root filling. Than the tooth is closed with a strong final filling material.

It is very important to make the RCT as painless and comfortable as possible. As most patients are very apprehensive about this treatment. With the correct use of anaesthesia and numbing techniques which can also involve sedation and thorough cleaning and removal of the pulp tissue, it ensures that the treatment is comfortable for the patient.The root filling should be accurately extending the complete length of the canal. It is very important to compact or press the filling well into all the lateral or accessory canals to prevent any kind or reinfection. It is also important not to overfill or underfill the canal as this can lead to pain and sensitivity with time. Extrusion of intracanal medicaments and filling materials is a common source of discomfort for the patient.Also, high points on the tooth structure after the root canal filling can be painful for the patient while biting and chewing food. So if all these factors are taken into consideration an RCT can be made a relatively painless and comfortable experience.A root canal treated tooth should always be restored with a prosthetic crown or cap to protect the tooth structure. This ensures complete protection and strength to the tooth structure and improves the prognosis of the treatment.A properly done RCT with a good post Endodontic crown or prosthesis can easily increase the life of the tooth by upto 10 years.

Before/After

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