What Is a Root Canal Treatment?

When people suffer from sensitive teeth, pain, or discomfort they could be infected. If the innermost part of the tooth, the pulp is severely infected or decayed, the dentist will recommend the root canal treatment to save the tooth. The treatment is suitable for patients of all ages.

When the bacteria enter the soft tissue or the pulp of a tooth and cause an infection, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. During the RCT, the infected pulp is completely removed from the tooth and then the tooth is sealed to prevent reinfection.

It is a dental procedure that alleviates pain caused by an abscessed or infected tooth, restoring the tooth functionality and preventing the spread of further infection. After removing the infected pulp,  the inner surfaces of the tooth are disinfected and cleaned completely and a filling is placed over the tooth to seal the space.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, almost 41,000 root canals are performed every day in the United States that shows more than 15 million root canals are done each year.

Root canal is nothing but the space inside the tooth filled with pulp. Root canal treatment procedure is a procedure that treats infection related to the pulp. If left untreated it will decay the tooth from the roots and it can spread into the gums and jaw. In order to save the tooth, cleaning it out with a root canal treatment in Gurgaon is a suitable option. There are many benefits of root canal treatment.

Root canal treatment is done by an endodontist (a root canal specialist) or a general dentist.

Table of Content

1. Who Need RCT?
2. Signs and Symptoms of RCT
3. Procedure of Root Canal Treatment
4. Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
5. Precautions to be Taken
6. Cost of Root Canal Treatment
7. What to expect after RCT treatment?
8. Why Choose SmileXpertz for Root Canal Treatment in Gurgaon

Who Need RCT?

When the infection has spread into the canal of the tooth, Root Canal Treatment is needed. When dental X-rays show that the soft tissues or pulp of the tooth has been infected or exposed to a bacterial infection, then also RCT is needed. If the pulp is infected by bacteria, it becomes inflamed and tender and allows the bacteria to multiply and spread in the infected tooth.

When the initial cavity or cracked or damaged tooth due to trauma is left untreated for a long period – Root canal treatment is necessary when oral bacteria infect the pulp of the tooth. 

Faulty fillings – The infection of the root canal also happens after faulty fillings that cause damage to teeth.

Signs and Symptoms of RCT

• Severe tooth pain during chewing and biting
• Sensitivity or pain when eating or drinking hot or cold food and beverages
• Redness in the infected area

If these symptoms are neglected, they often disappear as the pulp dies. Then the tooth appears to be healed, but actually, the infection spreads through the root canal of the tooth deeper into soft tissues.

You may get further signs and symptoms such as:

• Unrelenting pain when chewing and biting
• Swelling and redness of the gum near the damaged tooth
• Pus
• Swelling over the cheek or jaw
• Discoloration of the infected tooth
• Recurring or persistent pimple present on gum

It’s essential to visit the dentist if you have a toothache. Because the pulp can not heal by itself if the tooth is infected.

Ignoring the infected tooth decreases the chance to save it through root canal treatment.

Antibiotics are not effective in treating root canal infections because these are medicines to treat bacterial infections. These can only help to treat swelling that develops due to bacterial invasion. 

Procedure of Root Canal Treatment

Initial assessment

During the initial visits, your medical history will be taken and your current health status is checked. The detailed assessment of teeth is carried with the help of imaging systems.

During the root canal treatment procedure

• The procedure is simple and is typically done under local anesthesia. The dentist will numb the area and also induce sedation if a patient is too anxious.
• The imaging scans and X-rays will be taken to measure the depth of the canal and the next step is creating a hole in the crown of the tooth to access the inner infected pulp. A dental drill is used to open the tooth.
• Specific tools are used for removing a dead pulp from the cavity. This is essential to remove all the bacteria from the root canal.
• The canals are then cleaned with disinfectant.
• Root canal fillings or synthetic materials are inserted in the cavity and the tooth is sealed. The filling acts as a physical barrier to any further infection.
• A temporary crown is placed on the tooth to avoid any infection.
• After few days you will be asked to revisit for the next session. In the second session, the infected are is re-cleaned and the tooth is sealed. The permanent crown of your choice of material is placed carefully on the tooth. This restores the functioning and appearance of the tooth.
• The duration of the treatment is approximately 30 min to one hour.

Benefits of Root Canal Treatment

• The root canal treatment procedure is designed to relieve the pain associated with the infected tooth and an excellent way to help save the tooth.
• With the use of modern technology, the procedure is safe, straightforward, and highly successful with very few complications.
• Under anesthesia, the root canal treatment procedure is painless and comfortable. Post-procedure slight pain and inflammation are experienced but can be easily managed with painkillers.
• The recovery time is short and the procedure helps prevent further decaying of the tooth.
• With the success of the treatment, severe toothache, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold food items, swelling of gums, and other related issues are resolved.

Precautions to be Taken

A root canal is painless as you are given an adequate amount of anesthesia to ease discomfort during the procedure. However, you must follow precautions during a root canal to get a comfortable recovery. 

• Avoid alcohol and tobacco for 24 Hours before the procedure – Dentists administer anesthesia before the procedure starts. These medications can show adverse effects on tobacco and alcohol. 
• Visit the clinic with a full stomach – Because of the anesthesia, the mouth becomes numb for 3 to 4 hours. And it is difficult to eat with a numb mouth. Therefore eating early makes your recovery comfortable. 
• Take prescribed painkillers before the procedure – The dentist may recommend these medicines for relieving your anxiety, making it easy to receive fearless therapy. 
• Ask Questions – When a painful dental procedure like root canals is recommended, you must know the entire procedure you are getting.
• Be Comfortable and take rest before and after the treatment – Take rest before and even after completing the root canal treatment. Generally, human bodies recover and repair themselves the most when resting. 

Cost of Root Canal Treatment

The RCT cost in Gurgaon varies from clinic to clinic and also from city to city. The cost depends largely upon:

• Choice of clinic
• The complexity of the treatment: molar require longer time and are costlier than others.
• Type of treatment
• Choice of material
• Requirement of an additional dental crown will add to the cost significantly when the only filling is not sufficient
• Number of sittings/session

The RCT cost in Gurgaon depends upon the type of tooth and the number of roots, for example, back teeth have 4 roots while front teeth have only one root.

The average root canal treatment cost ranges between 3000 to 6000 rupees per tooth.

What to expect after RCT treatment?

How long will my mouth be numb?

During root canal treatment, the tooth and the surrounding soft tissue will be numbed because of a local anesthetic. It will take a few hours to wear off completely. Avoid drinking and chewing foods until the numbness has gone.

When can I eat and/or drink following the root canal procedure?

Avoid taking hot food and beverages until the numbness has worn off. After this, you can eat anything but avoid sticky foods and try not to bite or chew directly on the affected tooth. 

Can I eat on the tooth with the root canal?

Until the dentist has placed the final restoration, chewing on the treating tooth should be avoided, or chew on the opposite side of the mouth. 

After the root canal treatment will I be able to go back to work?

Most people return to work following an endodontic procedure, but if possible they take the rest of the day off because of the numbness of the mouth caused by the anesthesia. 

Can I drive after the procedure?

Avoid driving after the procedure, because local anaesthesia might give you a sense of dizziness.

Can I brush and floss my teeth post-RCT?

Yes, you can resume your normal oral hygiene routine after 30 to 40 minutes.

Can I do exercise after root canal treatment?

Wait for a few hours until the local anesthetic has completely worn off before going for exercise.

Do I have any sensitivity after treatment?

The tooth may be sensitive or have an aching sensation for a few days after root canal treatment, but it is temporary. 

Is my tooth open after treatment?

No, the tooth is not open after Root Canal treatment. The tooth is completely filled with filling material.

Why Choose SmileXpertz for Root Canal Treatment in Gurgaon

Range of Services: At Smilexpertz, Gurgaon, you can get comprehensive dental care services from root canal treatments (RCT) to the various dental implants, and every procedure is done with the highest degree of precision.

Highest Quality: The root canal treatment (RCT) requires the dentist to remove, clean, and shape the infected area, and then subsequently seal it with a biocompatible material. A specialized dentist at Smilexpertz performs the Root Canal (RCT) procedure with significant expertise. The clinic has the latest technology and the best material for achieving the best results.

State-of-the-art Technology: The finest, state-of-the-art technologies support the team with significant expertise at the clinic at every stage of the root canal (RCT) procedure.

Team of Experts: The dentists at the clinic have performed a number of root canal treatments and have successful results and painless experiences for patients.

Regular check-up and maintenance: The team of experts at the clinic advises all patients to have regular dental check-ups to keep a tab on the condition of their teeth and gums. With regular checkups, various chronic and complicated dental issues are prevented.