Root Canal Treatment In Brampton

Dr. Sonia Sharma

Question: In the past, while playing basketball, I was hit with an elbow. At that time, the hit made my lips swollen and chipped my teeth. Recently, I noticed that my injured teeth are turning grayish blue. My doctor referred me to a dentist who has recommended an expensive root canal treatment. Do I really need such a treatment? – Harinder S. Bains, Malton.

Dr. Sharma: Many patients are often recommended root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment or inside the tooth treatment). Before going to answer the need, I would like to enlighten you a little more about the root canal treatment.

Teeth are hard from outside, but are fairly soft inside. The core is made up of nerve/s that makes it vital or living. These nerve/s tissue and blood vessels that feeds the nerve/s gets damaged through infection. The infection can be due to many reasons:

• Deep decay
• Injury to the tooth
• Deep filling
• Crack or chip of the tooth
• Repeated dental treatments on the tooth etc.

In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess (swelling).

Signs to look for include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gum tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms. A dentist usually determines the treatment for root canal by following a series of diagnostic procedures such as:

• Careful visual examination of the teeth;
• Checking the temperature sensitivity (hot/cold);
• Observing any additional sensitivity to pressure; either through biting, tapping or pushing on the suspect tooth;
• Carefully X-Raying the area(s) in question;
• Checking the tooth through electronic nerve tester.

Once it is confirmed that the root canal is the only viable treatment, the dentist or root canal specialist in Brampton than removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, a crown or other restoration is generally placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After the procedure is complete, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure. For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your dentist’s instructions carefully. Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your root canal treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your dentist.

The cost varies depending on how complex the problem is and which tooth is affected. Molars are more difficult to treat and thus the treatment fee is high. Most dental insurance policies provide some coverage for root canal treatment.

Generally, root canal treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with a bridge or implant to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than root canal treatment and appropriate restoration. With root canal treatment you save your natural teeth and money.

Please remember that the information is provided as general information. It is NOT intended to replace professional care. Since every patient and every case may vary, consult your physician or dentist for advice on your particular situation.

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