“Dental hygiene is an essential factor for healthy life” – we all must have heard this line since childhood, but we often neglect our dental health. Our mouth is the main source of eating food. The food we eat passes through our mouth and broken down into small pieces and passed on to other body parts. It means that along with food, other bacteria in our mouth also spread to our body parts along with the food. Hence, dental hygiene can give rise to a number of health-related problems such as diabetes, digestive issues, respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, and the nightmare – toothache.

Nothing is worse than a toothache. The pain you go through is unbearable and can lead to severe headaches and other medical conditions. Some toothaches can be cured with painkiller; however, some may need proper treatment. Bad breath, sensitivity, and other minor issues can be resolved by maintaining dental hygiene, whereas, infections and the damaged tooth may need a root canal.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a treatment for an infected and damaged tooth. The word root canal means inside the tooth. The process of root canal starts with removing the pulp (infected area of the tooth). The area is cleaned and sterilized followed by filling and sealing. A root canal is considered most effective treatment for the deep cavity, cracked tooth, abscess, or major dental issues.

Step by Step Procedure

A root canal is considered a painful process. Many people fear this process and make their dental health even worse just to avoid the treatment. According to Capstone Dental, about 15% of people avoid seeking critical procedures like root canals due to common myths about it. However, an experienced dental surgeon will ensure to make the process as painless as possible. Following steps are performed during the procedure:

X-ray

To ensure that root canal is the only solution to the problem, the dentist will perform an x-ray. Some issues may be addressed without this procedure, however, to find out about the problem in detail, X-ray is necessary.

Anaesthesia:

The procedure begins with anaesthesia. Few injections of anaesthesia are administered to numb the affected area.

Pulpectomy

Next is to remove the pulp. The pulp is the infected or damaged area of the tooth. This step is painless, due to anaesthesia.

Filling

The last step is filling. The infected part has been taken out and the roots are filled with material and sealed.

Post-Procedure Precautions

It is advised to avoid chewing or biting for few hours or maybe a day, post-procedure. The treated area becomes sensitive and might bleed followed by a swelling. A painkiller must be taken in order to avoid any pain. Usually, patients are advised to be on liquid diet for few days (or until their next follow-up) to avoid any infection. You must take good care of your teeth.

Your dental health is everything. If it is healthy, rest of your health can stay healthy too. Brush your teeth religiously, avoid junk foods, use mouthwash, and floss your teeth regularly. These little things can help you stay away from big dental problems.