What are the Types of Root Canal Therapy?
When you have lingering tooth sensitivity, pain, swollen and tender gums, it may indicate that your pulp is infected. In this case, a root canal dentist near you may recommend that you get a root canal treatment. However, they will examine your teeth to determine the best root canal therapy for several types. The primary goal of all the root canal treatment types is to remove the infected pulp and restore the tooth.
What is a Root Canal?
An endodontic procedure is done to remove an infected pulp chamber. Our teeth have three layers, with the pulp chamber being the most inner layer, and it houses nerves and blood vessels. The chamber can get infected because of bacterial infection, repeated dental procedures, or damaged tooth filling. When the pulp cavity is infected, it can cause several problems like tooth sensitivity, pain when chewing, swollen and tender gums, darkening of the gums, and loose teeth. A dentist will recommend root canal therapy in Brandon, FL, to remove the infected canal and stop the spread of the infection.
What are the Types of Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is classified into different types based on the severity of the infection, and they include:
- Non-surgical root canal
Endodontic removes infected or damaged tissue in the root of a tooth. The treatment is usually done when the infection has progressed to the point where it is hard to treat with antibiotics and other methods.
Dr. Dharmendra Pansuriya will open the crown and use a dental drill that scrapes away at the tooth and roots to remove the pulp (the soft tissue inside). A biocompatible material or gutta-percha is then used to fill the teeth, and they are sealed. A root canal therapy is usually done as an outpatient procedure and takes 1-2 hours. The patient will feel some discomfort after the anesthesia wears out, but most patients go home on the same day without any complications.
- Apicoectomy
If the traditional root canal treatment is unsuccessful, the dentist may opt for an apicoectomy. An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the apex of a tooth, usually the tooth next to the root.
It is performed when the infection has spread into its pulp chamber and has affected the alveolar bone. The apex of the tooth is removed and then sealed off with gutta-percha or other suitable material. Once this is done, it allows for disinfection and healing of the infected area.
- Pulpotomy and Pulpectomy
These are essentially root canals for children, and they are done in infected baby teeth to save them and support healthy growth.
A pulpotomy is recommended if only a tiny part of the child’s tooth pulp is infected. Our dentist removes the infected part of the pulp and leaves the healthy pulp intact.
A pulpectomy is done when the tooth cannot be saved with a pulpotomy because of extensive decay.
How Is A Root Canal Beneficial?
Root canals are beneficial for many reasons, such as:
- It prevents tooth decay and periodontal disease. Endodontic treatment will remove the infected pulp and stop it from spreading to the nearby tissues. This will prevent decay from developing or periodontal disease.
- They also prevent the need for future extractions and dentures. Extractions are often done when your teeth are extensively damaged. Tooth extraction causes gaps between the gums, which can damage your dentine. You will need other expensive dental procedures like dentures or dental bridges with missing teeth. A root canal procedure can help prevent all that.
A root canal procedure can be painful and uncomfortable, but it is necessary to maintain healthy teeth.
What to Expect After an Endodontic Therapy?
After the root canal procedure, you are likely to feel some pain and discomfort for a day or two. After that, you will experience decreased sensitivity in your tooth and mouth. You may also have pain when you eat or brush your teeth, but this is temporary and should go away over time.
Some people may experience temporary swelling after the procedure, lasting anywhere from 1-2 weeks. If this happens, it’s best to contact your dentist right away or visit a dentist’s office near you to adjust your medication or other treatment options.
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Visit Brandon Perfect Dental for more information about root canal treatment, why it is done, and what the procedure involves.