Root canal treatment may be necessary when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected or inflamed, causing pain and tenderness in the tooth and jaw area. In some cases, the pulp needs to be removed and the root filled with special material that protects it from infection and allows it to heal over time. But how long does root canal treatment last? Here are the details about root canal duration and recovery time, as well as other things you might want to know about this procedure before you undergo it.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment) is a procedure that treats damaged or infected tooth pulp that can’t be treated through dental fillings. The pulp houses your tooth’s blood vessels and nerves, and it protects your tooth from external forces. With time, a tooth with extensive decay or injury to its pulp may become infected or inflamed. When that happens, root canal treatment is often needed to restore normal function and health of your teeth. During a root canal, an endodontist cleans out damaged and inflamed tissue from inside your tooth’s chamber and replaces it with inert filling material—usually gutta-percha, which provides support for new dentin growth in order to strengthen your tooth from within.
What Are The Success Rates Of Root Canals?
It’s easy to see why so many people are worried about root canals. In fact, one study found that almost 70% of patients with a toothache associated with a tooth that had previously been filled reported fear of future pain or discomfort. However, many people don’t know how common root canal treatment is. For example, over 6 million root canals are performed each year in just oral surgery offices alone! That figure doesn’t include all of the other procedures that lead up to and follow from your root canal treatment. While you may not know how long your treatment will last for certain, it might help put your mind at ease to know just how common it is for dentists to perform them successfully.
What Causes An Abscessed Tooth?
An abscessed tooth is what most people think of when they think of a dental emergency. Tooth decay or a crack in your tooth can lead to an infection, which results in swelling and pain. Sometimes it becomes difficult to treat with antibiotics alone; in that case, an oral surgeon will have to remove part of your tooth and fill it with filling material such as gold alloys or porcelain. If you experience severe pain, see a dentist immediately. The infection has probably already spread beyond just your original tooth by that point. While not life-threatening, long-term complications from untreated abscesses include osteomyelitis (infection inside bone) and meningitis (infection in membranes surrounding your brain).
Is A Root Canal Necessary For Every Infected Tooth?
A common myth about root canals is that every tooth with a cavity must be treated with a root canal. This is simply not true, as many teeth can undergo a filling or even just have their cavity shaved down by your dentist without having to be treated with a root canal. If you’re wondering if your tooth requires treatment, ask your dentist which course of action they recommend. For some people, getting a root canal means they won’t need to return to their dentist for years and won’t have any other issues surrounding their infected tooth. But it’s important to remember that not all root canals are created equal – how long yours lasts will vary greatly depending on your circumstances and care after treatment ends.
Recovery From A Root Canal Procedure
The length of time it takes to recover from a root canal procedure depends on two factors: how quickly your body heals, and how much pain you experience. If your body is healthy and you’re not feeling any pain after surgery, chances are good that you’ll be up and about soon afterward. But if a root canal was performed because of tooth decay or other dental issues, there may be some discomfort involved in addition to healing time. Factors like your age, overall health and occupation also affect recovery.
Risks And Complications Associated With Endodontic Procedures
Just as with any medical procedure, you should know what risks are associated with endodontic procedures. Common complications that occur during root canal treatment include nerve injury, pain, swelling and bleeding. In addition to these symptoms you may experience infection of your tooth or surrounding gum tissue as well as exposure of your tooth roots from gingival recession, a common side effect of gum disease. Following root canal treatment it is important to visit your dentist on a regular basis so that he can detect any early signs of gum disease or exposure which could lead to further problems down the road. If you have been treated for a dental abscess and now have pain in your jaw or aching teeth it may be because an infection still remains in your teeth even after cleaning and filling.
