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endodontic treatment of teeth close-up. Cleaning of the roots of the teeth and their filling. The concept of modern technology in the dental clinic

What to expect if going for RCT (Root Canal Treatment)


1. Oral examination, Diagnosis and treatment planning 

Dentist before starting a procedure firstly will do these following things:

  • Taking dental X-rays to look at the extent of damage.
  • Will ask for any symptom like pain, sensitivity or swelling.
  • Determine whether root canal is needed or any other alternative treatment like restoration or extraction is required depending on the extent of damage.

2. Procedure preparation 

  • local Anesthesia: Local anesthetic solution will be injected to the area nearby to tooth to make the area numb temporarily. It makes the area  painless. Very mild discomfort might appear from the injection. 
  • Dentist may place rubber dam sheet around the tooth for isolating it and keep the area dry and free of saliva during the root canal procedure.

3. During the RCT procedure

Steps mostly followed are mentioned below 

  • Access cavity preparation: a. small hole is made in top to tooth for reaching the pulp chamber. Pulp chamber is a place where blood vessels and nerves of tooth are located.
  • Cleaning : With special instruments the infected and damaged tissue from tooth and will clean the canals to remove any bacteria or debris present.
  • Shaping or BMP (Bio mechanical preparation): In this step, shaping of canals is done which in turn makes the space smooth and makes space clean for filling material. 
  • Obturation/ Filling Canals: Here, the empty root canals are filled with biocompatible material (gutta-percha) to seal them, thus preventing further infection. 
  • Filling of coronal portion : Temporary filling is placed to close the hole in the tooth. If all goes well, permanent filling is planned. 

4. Follow-Up 

  • Management of pain : mild soreness or discomfort is common after treatment. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics or analgesics for 3 to 5 days.
  • Post operative care: Avoiding chewing from treated tooth until permanent restoration like crown or inlay is planned. 
  • Crown : In most of the cases, after the RCT, tooth may become brittle and is at higher risk getting fracture. So, a dental crown is placed over the tooth, restoring its function and strength.    

5. Healing Phase 

  • Mild Pain or Discomfort:  Sometimes mild discomfort or pain may be experienced for few days, but it wears off with time.
  • Post-Treatment Infection: If root canals is done properly, its very rare to get infection again. If it occurs additional treatment may be needed.

6. After care

After root canal is completed and crown is placed its important to take good care of oral hygiene with brushing and flossing for maintaining health of treated tooth and other teeth.

Risks and side effects 

  • Treatment failure: Sometimes, infection if not fully resolved, the tooth may get re-infected. Re- RCT may be needed to clean the canals again.
  • Tooth Fracture: If permanent filling and crown is delayed or if not properly restored it may be prone to fracture. 
  • Swelling: If persistent discomfort or swelling occurs, consult your dentist.

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