Of all dental procedures, root canal treatment has a bad reputation among people. This is particularly true for those who have never had such a treatment, perhaps chose the wrong clinic, and the intervention was accompanied by discomfort.
As we often encounter the fear of root canal treatment, we have decided to dedicate an entire article to the subject, as part of which we will try to dispel common misconceptions while also discussing Naturadent's laser microscopic intervention.
There's no need to fear root canal treatment at a modern dental practice anymore; on the contrary, it should be seen as an opportunity to save even severely problematic teeth, which years or decades ago would have simply been extracted.
A gyökérkezelés egy fogászati eljárás, amely a fog koronáján belüli, fogonként eltérő rendszert, amelyet dentin csőnek neveznek, és amelynek elágazásai, az idegvégződéseket is tartalmazó pulpa az idegekkel és erekkel, eltávolítják, és aztán megtisztítják, fertőtlenítik, formázzák, tömik és lezárják.
A Root canal treatment a special tooth-saving procedure, which is most often used when the nerve and tissues in the pulp become inflamed or die, causing significant pain.
During the procedure, the infected nerve and tissues are removed, and the root canal is thoroughly cleaned of pathogens and then sealed, thus preventing the tooth from needing to be extracted.
So let's not be afraid of root canal treatment
Today it's a routine treatment, like a filling.
The first and most important reason not to fear root canal treatment is that the procedure is now considered as routine as, for example, having a filling.
Clearly, during root canal treatment, one needs to penetrate much deeper into the tooth than in the case of a small cavity, but fundamentally, the tooth must be drilled out in the same way and then sealed with a suitable crown filling so that nothing of the procedure is visible.
Thanks to modern equipment, dentists can proactively identify a problematic tooth, for example with dental X-rays, so they can plan the entire procedure in advance in order to open and clean all the root canals of each patient.
In a well-equipped practice, treatment can be carried out with a high success rate, and therefore, the incidence of complications is very minimal.
Root canal treatment is always performed under anaesthetic
Those times when dental treatments were painful are long gone. Nowadays, anaesthetic is used for almost all procedures, and root canal treatment is no exception in this regard.
In fact, the majority of patients arrive at the surgery with pain, but after the anaesthetic is administered, this subsides within a few minutes and is replaced by a pleasant numbness, which allows for a problem-free intervention.
The treatment is performed under local anaesthesia, which significantly dulls any discomfort. Of course, the patient may feel the cleaning of the tooth pulp, but without significant pain.
The pain usually disappears after the first treatment.
Another argument in favour of root canal treatment is its effectiveness. There is no need to be scared of it, as in optimal cases, the pain which might have made the patient's life miserable for days beforehand can completely disappear after the very first treatment.
Inflamed tooth pulp can indeed cause immense pain, arguably one of the most unpleasant kinds. If someone wishes to avoid losing their tooth – as the problem can be treated even in this state – root canal treatment offers a fast and effective treatment alternative.
Root canal treatment can prevent invasive treatments.
If the pulp has become inflamed, it always requires intervention. The longer we postpone it, the greater the probability that invasive treatment will be necessary, for example, the complete removal of the tooth, which is much more unpleasant than root canal treatment.
This is why you shouldn't be afraid of it, as without treatment, inflamed dental pulp can cause very serious consequences, and with its help, more complicated interventions, which can sometimes pose a greater risk, can be avoided.
Not only effective, but also fast
While root canal treatment may require multiple interventions for optimal results, in many cases – particularly with the laser microscopic method used by NaturaDent – a single session is sufficient for pulp removal.
Furthermore, the treatment doesn't take hours even then, although this depends on the patient. This is because for some teeth, root canal treatment can be carried out as quickly as a filling, but there are more complex cases where a molar's multiple canals need to be cleaned, and these are also difficult to access.
Since modern dental practices take X-rays before root canal treatment, the dentist can work according to a developed treatment plan, and the patient can also be prepared for approximately how long the procedure will take.
The treatment leaves no visible marks
Root canal treatment is not a surgical procedure; there's no need for cutting or stitching. Therefore, after the first session, even with a temporary filling, the tooth can be restored so that no trace remains.
The composite fillings used nowadays perfectly match the shade of existing teeth in terms of both colour and efficacy, so not only do we not suffer any aesthetic disadvantage, but we also regain the original function of the tooth.
Obviously, the situation can be complicated a bit if there isn't enough original tooth material left for a filling after root canal treatment, but even in such cases, a crown can be used, which can also restore function and aesthetics.
The treated tooth can be saved
Preserving natural teeth is one of modern dentistry's most important objectives, and there's no need to fear root canal treatment for precisely this reason. It makes it possible to avoid tooth extraction and the subsequent creation of a dental bridge or the implantation of a dental implant when a tooth is diseased.
So let's not fear the possibility, as a root canal treatment involves far less inconvenience than, for example, the implantation mentioned earlier, which often requires a process lasting many months if a tooth replacement is needed.
The laser microscopy method opened new avenues in root treatment.
Should we still be afraid of root canal treatment despite the above, then we must definitely introduce a new method that has been able to revolutionise this dental procedure.
Used in our practice Laser microscopic root canal treatment as it makes the pulp removal process more precise, efficient, and hassle-free than ever before.
In such cases, treatment is based on the Biolase dental laser, which allows us to gently open the tooth without damaging healthy tooth tissue. Laser technology also ensures the complete cleaning and disinfection of the root canal.
The laser not only works much more accurately and precisely than manual methods, but it also sterilises the root canal, destroying all bacteria that could potentially cause re-infection or other problems.
At NaturaDent, the entire procedure is carried out using a dental microscope with 31x magnification. This achieves outstanding effectiveness that cannot be compared to traditional root canal treatment.
As the procedure is performed under full anaesthesia, the patient will feel practically nothing from it, while the success rate of the treatment is incomparable to other methods.
This is why you shouldn't put off root canal treatment
As we've described before, many people are prone to postponing root canal treatment due to fear, which is a problem because serious complications can develop. What can happen if treatment is delayed? Let's see:
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The inflammation can worsen: If the infected pulp is not removed, the inflammation can spread, which can increase the discomfort and make treatment more difficult.
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The infection can spread further: Naturally, not only the inflammation but also the infection itself can spread, for example to the surrounding jawbone, the sinus cavity, and in extreme cases, to other parts of the body, which can lead to a very serious, even life-threatening condition.
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Pain can intensify: Inflamed pulp typically causes very severe pain, but in some cases, dentists recommend root canal treatment even with mild pain. If this is neglected, the pain can worsen and cause a great deal of discomfort.
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We can also lose the tooth: If we postpone the treatment for too long, the extensive infection can become so severe that the tooth can no longer be saved and must eventually be extracted.
Frequently asked questions
Does root canal treatment really not hurt?
Thanks to modern anaesthetic methods, root canal treatment is now almost completely painless throughout the entire procedure.
Won't one feel anything from a root canal treatment?
With the traditional method, the patient may feel the cleaning of the root canals, but it does not cause pain. With laser treatment, this discomfort can be avoided.
How long does a root canal take?
Variable, but the first intervention usually lasts 60-90 minutes.
How many sessions are needed for root canal treatment?
With the laser microscope method, two appointments are usually sufficient. The first appointment involves cleaning the root canals, which is concluded with a medicated filling, while the second appointment is for the final sealing and crown filling, and checking the result of the root canal treatment.
Can our teeth hurt after root canal treatment?
If the procedure was successful, then no. However, sensitivity may occur, which usually resolves on its own within one to two days.
