Your Guide to Root Canal Treatment/Retreatment
In Chew Dental Clinic, we are passionate about saving natural teeth because we think that nothing is better than natural teeth.
We are here for you in every step of the way to ensure that you would not feel anxious about your Root Canal Treatment. Root Canal Treatment can be daunting but we hope that our blog can help you understand a little more about the procedure.
What is a Root Canal Treatment (RCT)?
RCT is a procedure in which the dentists remove inflamed and infected tissues inside your natural tooth which is then cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed. RCT essentially removes bacteria present inside the tooth and prevent reinfection. This is how we can save natural teeth!
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Is Root Canal Treatment painful?
Patients will be given local anaesthesia before commencing the RCT. The dentists will ensure that profound anaesthesia is achieved before proceeding. However, it is not uncommon to feel sore and have low grade discomfort for a few days following RCT.
How to know if you need a Root Canal Treatment?​
Generally, you will need it when there is inflammation or infection present inside the tooth. Some signs and symptoms to look out for is if you have had experience of spontaneous throbbing pain that lasts for minutes or pain that disrupts your sleep at night. What we advise is to have it clinically examined and have neccessary investigations.
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But how does the bacteria get inside my tooth?
They have different causes such as deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks.
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I've had history of pain mentioned above but I don't feel any pain now, does that mean I do not require RCT?
If inflammation or infection is left untreated inside the tooth, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
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Is it better to just pull out my painful tooth and not do RCT?
Saving your natural teeth is always the best option. RCT has a high success rate and many root canal-treated teeth last a long time. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to adjacent tooth.
How many visits do I need for root canal treatment?
Generally, 1 or 2 visits of appointment would be required depending on the complexity of the case. Each visit can take up to 90 minutes.
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Do I need a dental crown after root canal treatment?
Teeth towards the back of mouth generally require a crown and this is to reduce the risk of chance for fracture of the treated tooth. We advised to get a crown done within 4 months after root canal treatment.
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Can a root canal treatment fail? And what to do after?
If done properly, root canal treatment has a high success rate. However, Root Canal Retreatment (Re-RCT) might be able to carried out to save the natural tooth again.
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Is root canal treatment expensive?
Whilst we believe that extracting and losing a salvageable natural tooth has a higher price to pay, teeth towards the back of your mouth can cost more than the front teeth. Please call Chew Dental Clinic to enquire about the price.
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*Disclaimer: results may vary between individuals and any dental procedures carry risks and benefits.