Root Canal Treatment – Types, Procedure and Durability
Root canal treatment (also known as endodontic therapy, endodontic treatment, or root canal therapy) is a treatment sequence for the infected pulp of a tooth which is intended to result in the elimination of infection and the protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion. Root canals, and their associated pulp chamber, are the physical hollows within a tooth that are naturally inhabited by nerve tissue, blood vessels and other cellular entities. Together, these items constitute the dental pulp.
Before endodontic therapy is carried out, a correct diagnosis of the dental pulp and the surrounding periapical tissues is required. This allows the endodontist to choose the most appropriate treatment option, allowing preservation and longevity of the tooth and surrounding tissues. Treatment options for an irreversibly inflamed pulp (irreversible pulpitis) include either extraction of the tooth or removal of the pulp.
Removing the infected/inflamed pulpal tissue enables the endodontist to help preserve the longevity and function of the tooth. The treatment option chosen involves taking into account the expected prognosis of the tooth, as well as the patient’s wishes. A full history is required (which includes the patient’s symptoms and medical history), along with a clinical examination both inside and outside the mouth, and the use of diagnostic tests.
Types & Procedures:
There are several diagnostic tests that can aid in the diagnosis of the dental pulp and the surrounding tissues. These include:
1.Palpation (this is where the tip of the root is felt from the overlying tissues to see if there is any swelling or tenderness present)
2.Mobility (this is assessing if there is more than normal movement of the tooth in the socket)
3.Percussion (TTP, tender to percussion; the tooth is tapped to see if there is any tenderness)
4.Transillumination (shining a light through the tooth to see if there are any noticeable fractures)
5.Tooth Slooth (this is where the patient is asked to bite down upon a plastic instrument; useful if the patient complains of pain on biting as this can be used to localise the tooth)
6.Radiographs
7.Dental pulp tests
Is It Painful?
Several randomized clinical trials concluded that the use of rotary instruments is associated with a lower incidence of pain following the endodontic procedure when compared to the use of manual hand instruments.[38][39] Corticosteroid intra-oral injections were found to alleviate pain in the first 24 hours in patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulp inflammation.
Durability:
Root canal, also called RCT is a treatment for a tooth that is badly infected down to the root. But since the tooth was severely damaged before the treatment, it would certainly be weaker than your other healthy teeth. It would last for a good 10-15 years but if they are crowned, it will increase their life.