Severe toothache, difficulty in chewing, sensitive teeth that makes food intake painful, and add to it is the problem of tooth decay… All these issues point towards the possibility of a dental treatment called the root canal procedure.

Root canal treatment procedure is a life saver or a ‘tooth saver’. It is a complex procedure done by dentists to preserve and save dental health and save the decayed tooth in the process. It is a relatively painless procedure, since it is conducted under local anaesthesia. The pain and discomfort one feels in this procedure are slight when compared to that of tooth extraction.

What happens during root canal treatment?

Patients generally present with toothache which increases in severity, difficulty in chewing food, and an increase in tooth sensitivity. Some experience pain in the neck and jaws as well as constant headaches. Coupled with the pain, swelling in the jaw and neck region is also seen. Symptoms such as swollen gum lining and which is painful to touch, pimples appearing on the gums as well as gums changing colour are frequent.

Saving the tooth and removing the damage is what the root canal treatment does in a nutshell. The tooth has protective coverings with different functions. The outer enamel is the first protective covering, then the inner dentine level and the core of the tooth is the area where the nerve endings can be seen. The nourishment for the tooth is obtained from these tooth endings. If the pulp is infected then the growth and development of the tooth are drastically affected.

Regular dental consultations will help to forewarn if a root canal procedure is required. Sometimes, these check-ups help in diverting the issue with expert guidance from the dentist. But if a root canal treatment procedure is planned, then the process begins with an X-ray to understand the gravity of the issue. Local anaesthesia is then given to numb the area. Then the dentist proceeds to cut open the outermost area of the tooth to gain entry to the infected pulp. Specialised tools are available that help to reach the core of the tooth.

After the infection is removed, the area is cleaned to remove any leftover infected tissues, then it is closed with a sealant. This stops any further infection in the future. The opening of the tooth is then covered temporarily in some cases, later a more permanent covering replaces this. The crown of the tooth is then replaced by the dentist and the infected is cut off from its root and the procedure is complete.

How is dental health supported?

Root canal treatment helps protect from spread the of tooth decay. The infection that is treated with this procedure is the one affecting the pulp area of the tooth. This is the core region of the tooth. If this infection spreads then the dental and oral health will be damaged. Tooth decay can be caused by many reasons. Most of the time, it is due to plaque/tartar build-up. This is caused by a lack of personal hygiene and improper brushing techniques. Food particles are not removed from the mouth and they attract bacterial action. This will affect the protective covering of the tooth and also add up plaque deposits and lead to tooth decay.

It is not just the infected tooth that is affected, the infection will spread to the neighbouring teeth as well if proper care and treatment are not taken from the beginning.  The plaque deposit seen in a tooth can easily spread to neighbouring teeth as well. The reason can also be a lack of proper brushing and flossing. If steps are not taken at the beginning to remove them, they increase and spread to other teeth as well. The issue of loss of many teeth can result in jaw bone disintegration as well. This happens due to exposure of the jaw bone to continued infection. This affects the structural and functional properties of the bone and damages oral and dental health.

In the process of tooth decay, if a root canal is not performed for saving the tooth – an additional issue that can crop up is that of infection of the gum lining. The tartar build-up at the base of the tooth can irritate and worsen the health of the soft gum tissues and infect them as well. The gum lining infection can develop into gum diseases which is a serious oral/dental concern as well. Loss of a single tooth itself will alter the appearance of the person. The self-esteem of the person is affected and the worry is more so if the tooth loss due to decay is in the visible part of the mouth.

When a tooth gets infected, there are chances of the tooth changing colour making it less appealing. When the root canal treatment is done, the infected pulp is removed and the tooth is saved. The tooth is sealed and restored and its appearance is also taken care of and is seen as the shiny natural tooth without any discolouration.

Root canal treatment is essentially focused on protecting a tooth that is affected by decay. But in the process of treatment, this procedure saves dental health and at the same time supports the oral health of the person. It is important to follow proper cleaning techniques and have regular dental consultations as this will help to solve the issue earlier on. But if the dental problem progresses, then it is important to obtain proper guidance from a dentist. Understanding the procedure and making sure all the steps are followed after the procedure for maximum dental health is a must.