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Root Canal Therapy
(RCT)
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WHAT IS
ROOT CANAL THERAPY
(RCT)?
Primarily
it is a means of
saving a tooth by the removal
of the pulp that
is found inside every
tooth. Pulp is the term
for all the tissues inside the
canal, i.e. nerves, arteries
and veins. After the pulp
has been removed the tooth can
no longer react to its
environment and no longer
trouble you. The huge
advantage of Root Canal
Therapy is that it
gives a
tooth a second life - an
alternative to an
extraction.
Root Canal
Therapy includes the
procedure of filling up the now
empty canals that remain after
removal of the pulp with
special sealants and
fillers. It is a tricky
procedure and
sometimes
may take numerous appointments
to complete.
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An abscess
has developed below the
tooth (right). Look at the swelling
on the gum tissue
(left) |
WHY SHOULD A TOOTH NEVER BE
REMOVED?
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Tooth
fracture or dental decay
has exposed the nerve
itself
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The
nerve is
hypersensitive
due to the exposed root
surfaces or a prior dental
procedure
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The nerve has
died (a dead
nerve will result in the
formation of an abscess if
it is not removed.) Any
bacteria that accumulate in
the close pulp chamber or
root system will eventually
destroy tissues and lead to
the formation of liquid
(pus). The pus, together
with rising pressure inside
this close chamber can lead
to intense pain and
swelling, that typically
represent a tooth abscess.
Very often NO PAIN is
present during the
development of a chronic
abscess.
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The only way
to remove dead/infected pulp,
is to use a series of small
files |
AFTER THE NERVE HAS BEEN
REMOVED
Discoloration
is likely to occur later,
but bleaching
and
crowning are
good options to restore the
colour to its original state.
In the long run the tooth
becomes more susceptible to
fracture and it
is advisable to
strengthen the tooth with
some form of restoration,
usually a crown.
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CAN I EXPECT ANY PAIN OR DISCOMFORT
AFTERWARDS?
Following Root
Canal Therapy the tooth
sometimes feels traumatized and
tender. It can also be painful for
a few days. This pain does not
originate from inside the tooth, but is
itself a response from your body's immune
system. Inflammation takes place in
the tissue surrounding the root and
causes pain. Another factor is that
if there was an infection, like an
abscess, the tooth is more likely to pain
afterwards, because of a stronger
reaction from your body's immune
system.
CARE FOR ROOTH CANAL THERAPY
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AFTER the
FIRST
APPOINTMENT
when
the
canals
are
still
open
and
unfilled:
AFTER the
FINAL
APPOINTMENT
and
when
treatment
is
complete
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Expect
some pain that can
last for
about 72-hours.
It can be
controlled with
anti-inflammatory
medication.
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Make
sure your final
filling
/
crown
is
not too high in the
bite, because this
can cause
unnecessary
discomfort.
Contact your
dentist to ease the
restoration if
necessary.
-
Report
back to
your
dentist after 6
months
for follow up
x-rays to determine
if everything is
still in
order.
Sometimes a
painless
re-infection can
occur.
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Make
sure you get a good
final restoration
/crown
within 1 year of
the RCT to prevent
possible
fracture.
(The tooth is now
non-vital and will
get more brittle in
time)
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Contact
us for more
info on Root Canal
Treatments
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