What Happens During a Root Canal Treatment?

Out of the plethora of treatments we offer, root canal treatment in Hannon, Hamilton, must be the one most people fear. It could be because most people associate the procedure with pain. However, the good news is that the process is not painful since modern dentistry is not what it used to be decades ago.

Endodontics is performed under anesthesia to ensure that you will not feel any pain or discomfort. RCT dental is performed to save a damaged tooth by removing the infected or damaged pulp and then sealing the tooth.

So, have you been scheduled to undergo a root canal treatment in Hannon, and are you wondering how the procedure is carried out? Well, you are in the right place. Continue reading to have a sneak peek of the process.

Before Your Treatment

Before your appointment, you might need to get your insurance or payment information on hand. Also, you will need to come with your medical history and a list of medications that you use, including herbal supplements and drugs that you have bought in your local store.
Once you get to our office, our dentist will do the following:

• Step 1

Check or revisit any x-rays that you might have taken before the procedure prior to performing a visual examination to check the state of the tooth and the surrounding area.

• Step 2

After the examination, our dentist will commence the procedure by administering local anesthesia. The anesthesia is administered to ensure that the area is numb. You might experience a slight prick as our dentist is administering the anesthesia.

• Step 3

In a few moments, the area will be numb, so our dentist will proceed by placing a rubber sheet or dental dam to isolate and protect the tooth. It also aids in keeping the area dry and clean during the procedure.

During the Procedure

Typically, a root canal procedure will not take more than 90 minutes. If you have several teeth that need root canal treatment, you will need more than one appointment to deal with them. Let’s check out what happens next.

• Step 4

Our dentist will use a drill to create an opening at the top of your affected tooth. This opening will expose the part of the tooth that is affected, the dental pulp. It is a sensitive area since it contains blood vessels and nerves.

• Step 5

Then, our dentist will remove the damaged pulp from your tooth. This is the area of the tooth known as a root canal – that’s why the procedure is known as a root canal treatment.

• Step 6

After removing the pulp, the next step will be to clean the center of your tooth or the root canal. Also, the area will be shaped and widened using small dental files to create space for the dental filling. Our dentist will rinse your pulp chamber with different solutions to ensure that all the remnants are washed away. Then, the area and the affected tooth will be dried.

• Step 7

After the area is dry, our dentist will use antimicrobial medication to treat the root canal and prevent infection. If our dentist notices that the infection is severe, your tooth will be left open to allow it to drain for a day or so. Therefore, it will mean that you will have to come to our office for a second appointment.

• Step 8

Our dentist will use a biocompatible material referred to as the gutta-percha to fill out the root canal. This material will be cemented, and it will seal your tooth, eliminating the chances of further infection.

• Step 9

This is the final step, where our dentist will use a temporary filling to cover the tooth to ensure that food and bacteria stay out until the permanent filling or tooth crown is placed. In some instances, our dentist may deem it wise to skip placing the temporary filling and place a permanent filling during the same appointment.

After Root Canal Treatment

After the completion of the procedure, the ball is in your court. This means that you will have to pay extra attention to your treated tooth. To do so, you will need to consider the following:

• Take some medication to help you deal with pain and sensitivity
• Avoid chewing and biting with the treated tooth
• Maintain proper oral hygiene
• A follow-up dental checkup is necessary to check on your tooth

As you have seen, root canal treatment in Hannon, Hamilton, is not a painful or scary affair. Contact us at Rymal Family Dental if you need endodontics.