If you are suffering from an infected tooth, swelling, or pain, and your endodontist has recommended getting a root canal done, delaying the treatment will only worsen the tooth infection.

While Over-the-counter medications can offer pain relief, they will only be temporary. Even if your tooth pain subsides, the pulp under your tooth may become non-vital due to the deliverance of nerve supply.

Moreover, if the bacterial infection spreads to the soft deal pulp of the tooth, it can lead to a periapical abscess, resulting in pain, swelling, pus and other painful symptoms. If the infection gets severe involving furcation, the only alternative would be extraction/ removal of the tooth.

Root canal treatment begins with the dentist administering local anaesthesia to numb the affected tooth. We then isolate the tooth with a rubber dam/ cotton roll to keep it dry and free from saliva. A dental handpiece is used to gain better access to the inside of the tooth.

The canals are located with the help of endodontic files, and the infected pulp debris is cleared to shape the canals. The next step is irrigation with saline and sodium hypochlorite to wash away any remaining pulp and destroy remaining bacteria to reduce the chances of infection.

Next, the canals are filled with a biocompatible, rubber-like material called gutta percha. Your dentist may close your tooth opening with a permanent filling. After a week, the treatment is finished by placing a permanent crown or a similar restoration way.

Yes, root canal treatment can be completed in one sitting, depending on the extent of the infection and other factors.

In the first appointment, our dentists determine the scope of the condition, and root canal anatomy, locate the canals and gauge the working length. Your tooth is given a dressing which helps alleviate the tooth pain. In the second appointment, the canals are cleaned, disinfected and shaped.

In the third appointment, these canals are filled and sealed. One week later, your tooth receives a crown and undergoes capping depending on its location.

Once your tooth undergoes root canal treatment, it loses vitality and becomes more prone to fracture. It is necessary to cap the tooth after root canal treatment to increase its strength and durability. However, the need for capping depends on the tooth's location - molars and premolars located at the back are needed for chewing, so they require capping. On the other hand, incisors and canines don’t always need capping.

Root canal treatment will fail if there are undetected canal branches, micro-cracks or an obstruction (broken file) that makes it difficult to clean the canal of the tooth. Following are the symptoms of failed root canal treatment:

• Sensitivity to pressure (Tenderness +)
• Swelling/ Abscess/Gum boil/Sinus Tract
• Pain
• Thermal sensitivity (to hot or cold food stimulus)