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Got back from the dental clinic, and you're worried because the doc has said your teeth need something called 'RCT'? Googled your recent toothache this morning and Healthline days you need Root Canal Treatment.
If this is why you're reading this blog, we'd ask you to relax. There is not a single reason to worry because this is one of the smoothest and most highly successful treatment procedures in the dental surgery department.
Which part of your body gets abused daily? The answer could vary greatly as per your physical and medical scenario. But before you yell ' eyes,' 'my legs,' or 'poor brain,' aren't you forgetting something important? No, not heart. Certainly, you don't emphasize enough - Teeth. A study in the US says an average human spends 'only' 67 minutes of their day eating. But if you look at the bigger picture, they would spend a shocking 33,000 hours (almost) chewing, swallowing, and drinking in their lifetime. Now that's a lot, eh?
RCT: Root Canal Treatment and a few basic things you need to know
Your teeth are constitutionally simple. They contain three layers- a soft pulp covered by a hard shell of the dentin and an enamel layer on top. In long-lasting oral infections, bacterias often invade the pulp and manifest a serious inflammatory situation. This is where we need RCT (Root Canal Treatment), aka Endodontics as the supreme savior. Using this standard procedure, the pulp infected beyond repair needs to be removed entirely, and the space is filled with some other similar material as prosthetics after properly cleaning the cavity and surface.
Symptoms to tell that you need an RCT
All the signs and symptoms that characterize any nonhealing, long-lasting progressive teeth infection are common in this case. Like :
- Sensitivity of teeth: Do you feel a tingling, numbing sensation while consuming hot or cold foods that might indicate underlying inflammation? Often it persists for more than a few seconds to a minute.
- Swollen gums and jaws: swollen, tender, or reddish gums and jaws say you might need a root canal treatment soon. If it is associated with immobility or painful jaw movement while chewing, that's one step further.
- Tooth pain nonhealing: Many of us have this low-intensity pain in one or two teeth that persists or comes and goes a couple of times a year. You neglect this because of the non notorious nature, but this may very well be the sign of an underlying deep-seated large infective focus in your pulp that can not be killed by regular antibiotics or mouth washing. In this case, you would need an RCT and fill it out soon. Notice if the pain sharpens upon applying pressure.
- Cracked, chipped tooth: traumatic injuries often lead to the cracking or chipping of multiple teeth, creating gross cosmetic deformity. RCT can manage these.
- Loose tooth: Another sign of pus-filled infection. If you face one or more of these signs, immediately consult your dentist, Bacchus marsh dental care.
How is the actual procedure ( in brief )?
Pretty much like every other surgery, first local anesthesia is given. After which pulp is extracted through an access hole on the surface. Now the root canal and the pulp canal are cleaned, and in the next step, a thick flexible rubbery material is poured for filling. Finally, the entry hole is tightly sealed. Later a dental crown is applied after the removal of this temporary filling. The crown completely restores the tooth's structural integrity and chewing capacity.
RCT: Is it safe?
According to a report by the American Association of Endodontists, over 41,000 root canals are performed daily in the United States, implying that more than 15 million root canals are completed yearly. So yeah, it is a pretty common surgery because getting back to normal teeth is extremely beneficial and is not associated with any such side effects. Safety is the least of the concerns here. It doesn't even hurt. Most people, after the removal of the infected focus and temporary filling, immediately feel relieved. Furthermore, it significantly lowers the need for a future tooth extraction.
RCT: 5 tips to consider today before going for your Root Canal Treatment
1. Take medicines beforehand
Your dentist will advise you to take some antibiotics and painkiller drugs before the procedure. Ensure you take these few hours before going to the dentist's office. These medications are proven to keep the pain in control and lower the chance of secondary infection
2. Abstinence matters
Don't drink or smoke for at least 24 hours before and after the surgery. Alcohol and nicotine make the mouth dry, leading to many intraoperative difficulties. Furthermore, this slows down the healing process as well.
3. Eat a few hours before
You won't be able to eat immediately after the surgery. So it's important to keep your tummy filled for quite some time. Take a good meal to keep your body fit for surgery and recovery, but a few hours before visiting the dentist. Eating immediately before surgery might lead to secondary infection into the canal from retained food fragments.
4. Get good sleep
RCT is not any stressful surgery if you call it surgery! This is a simple Outdoor procedure that doesn't need admission. But don't neglect your sleep. A well-rested body always performs better healing.
5. Never in doubt
Never sign up for a procedure without knowing it. This often creates doctor-patient misunderstandings as well. Having so many questions? Worried about the outcome? Ask your dentist. We bet he or she would be happy to clear your doubts.
Teeth are to be protected at all costs! Surely you don't want to spoil your looks with a Missing, malformed, or displaced tooth.
Then, fear not and say yes to RCT.
Isreal olabanji a dental assistant and public health professionals and has years of experience in assisting the dentist with all sorts of dental issues.
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