Common causes of tooth damage include cavities occurring due to plaque accumulation, cracked or broken teeth due to an accident or trauma, gum diseases, and repeated dental treatment of a particular tooth. These can cause pulp inflammation, infection, or cause irreparable damage to the pulp which can cause excruciating pain. The pain may reduce as the pulp dies but recur as the infection spreads. Removing injured pulp is the best way to preserve the structure of the tooth. Root canal is carried out by a general dentist or endodontist while the patient is under local anesthesia.

As one of the Top dental institutes in Ernakulam, We Cochin Dental Institute provides  all the information you need to know about root canal treatments including the purpose, procedure and the risks involved.

PROCEDURE

1. Anesthesia: A numbing medication is administered on the gum adjacent to the affected tooth. Once the effect has taken place, a local anesthetic will be injected into the gums.
2. Removing the pulp: After the tooth and its surrounding areas become numb, an opening is drilled through the crown or the biting surface of the tooth by the endodontist to access the pulp chamber. Once the infected part is exposed, it is carefully removed by the specialist using files. The specialist also cleans out the canals in your tooth carefully.
3. Antibiotics: Once the infected area is removed, the area is coated with antibiotics to avoid the possibility of reinfection. Once the canals are cleaned and disinfected, the dentist seals the tooth with a sealer paste and a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. They may also prescribe oral antibiotics
4. Temporary filling: The end of the procedure consists of filling the small opening in the tooth with a soft temporary material. This sealant prevents damage of the canals by saliva.

POST TREATMENT

1. Take the antibiotics prescribed by the dentist regularly.
2. Maintain good oral hygiene, with regular brushing and flossing
3. It is advised not to drink or eat anything for a couple hours after root canal treatment.
4. Avoid hard and crunchy foods for a few days after treatment.
5. If the opening in your teeth was filled with the help of temporary filling, chances are it may wear off between appointments. If the entire filling wears off, consult your dentist immediately.

ELIGIBILITY

The following people are not eligible for root canal treatment:

• People suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure
• People who take blood thinners
• People suffering from diabetes
• People suffering from autoimmune diseases
• People suffering from infections and fever
• People suffering from osteoporosis

SIDE EFFECTS

• A common side effect is a dull pain in the tooth which usually vanishes a week after the treatment. However, by any chance, if the bacteria remain after the procedure, the infection may begin again. Which is why it is advised to visit the dentist if the pain stops after a while and recurs again.
• At times there may be a crack in the tooth which may go unnoticed by the endodontist. If so, the crack leaves the area exposed for infection.
• The crown may come loose which may expose the treated tooth. If left exposed for too long, the seal may erode leaving the area exposed to bacteria and infection.
• The use of defective materials during the filling process, can cause the seal to erode which may lead to recurrence of bacterial infection.

COMPLICATIONS

As with all medical and dental procedures, there are certain risks involved in root canal surgery. Listed below are some factors that can cause root canal complications such as:

• Persistence of bacteria

The presence of bacteria within the treated tooth or at the tip of the root can cause root canal failure. This is why it is important to properly clean and sterilize the canals during treatment. You might also need a course of antibiotics to prevent risk of infection.

• Inadequate filling

Underfilled or overfilled canals have a higher chance of failure.

• Improper sealing

A final restoration that not only strengthens the tooth but also provides an adequate sealing to prevent infections through bacteria is important. Which is why the dentist assesses the treated area to make sure that the crown fits perfectly over your tooth.

• Broken instruments

Root canals are carried out with the help of fine instruments that can help the dentist clean out any bacteria and residual tissue in the canal while preparing it for sealing. Sometimes, these delicate instruments may be damaged. This can affect the success of the treatment.

• Untreated canals

Sometimes, teeth may have more canals than roots which may be difficult to find and navigate. If a canal goes unnoticed, it may cause additional complications.

RISKS

1. Color change

Dental pulp is the living part within your teeth. When this is infected, it must be removed through root canal therapy. Whilst this saves your tooth from extraction, the living part of it is taken away. Tooth pulp consists of connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves. Once the pulp is taken away, the tooth essentially dies. Due to this, some patients experience some form of discoloration in their teeth.

2. Sinus congestion

A fairly common risk with root canals is that they can cause sinus problems. This is due to the slight leak of the liquid of your jaw through the membranes in your nose. While this is not life threatening, inflammation in sinus cavities can cause congestion and headaches.

3. Reinfection

Reinfection can happen if the treatment is carried out incorrectly. Before using fillers, it is important to clean and disinfect the tooth canals. If not carried out by a specialist, these passageways can be overlooked or inaccessible. The most common risk is that of seal failure. Once treatment is over, the access hole used for the procedure must be sealed. Any cracks or gaps in the seal can increase chance of reinfection.

4. Cracked tooth

As the tooth dies during root canal procedure, the treated tooth may not be as strong as it was before and could be quite brittle. Its because the main role of the pulp was to keep the tooth nourished and moisturized. It is why crowns are recommended post root canal treatment to strengthen the outer area of the tooth again.

5. Other complications

It is possible that the surrounding nerves around the affected tooth can be disrupted after treatment. In some cases, numbness surrounds the area. Another root canal risk is allergy to anesthesia. If you have experienced an allergic reaction to anesthesia during a medical procedure, it is important to inform your dentist immediately.

COST

Typically, the cost of a root canal ranges between 2000 INR to 10,000 INR. The cost of a root canal also varies depending on the city or locality, clinic, work experience, the number of teeth, the type of crown material used etc.

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The most common age groups that undergo cosmetic dental procedures are between the ages of 31 to 40 years and 41 to 50 years. About 96 percent of these patients are female.

TYPES OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Cosmetic dentistry may involve the following:

1. Addition of a dental material to your teeth or gums. (E.g.- bonding, veneers, crowns, gum grafts etc.)
2. The removal of a tooth structure or gums
3. Neither addition nor removal of any dental materials, tooth structure or gums. (E.g.- teeth whitening)
4. Straightening of teeth along with improvement in appearance of face.
5. Veneers or dental laminates
6. Scaling

• Whitening

This is considered as one of the most common cosmetic dental procedures. This is a safe process which is effective for most patients. Another type of teeth whitening technique is laser whitening, which involves gums covered with rubber dams and bleaching chemicals applied to the teeth. A beam of argon laser is then projected upon the teeth which accelerates the process of bleaching. Laser whitening is considered to be six times more effective than normal teeth whitening.

• Reshaping

Tooth reshaping involves removing parts of the enamel to improve the appearance of a tooth. It can be used to correct a small chip, length, shape or position of teeth, even when there is tooth size discrepancy. This process can also be used for correcting crooked or excessively long teeth. This process offers fast results and under certain circumstances can be used as an alternative to braces.

• Bonding

Bonding is a process in which an enamel like dental material, colour matched to the patient’s teeth is applied to a tooth’s surface, sculpted, hardened and then polished. Inlays and onlays are some examples of bonded restorations, which is used to repair decayed and cracked teeth. Teeth which are damaged by small or moderate decay, erosion or small fractures can be repaired with the help of direct composite restorations bonded to the teeth.

• Bridging

Dental bridges are used to substitute one or more missing teeth. This procedure is used to replace missing teeth and is cemented in. Most bridges are fixed and therefore cannot be removed. Cantilever bridges are used in areas of the mouth prone to less stress, such as the front teeth. Bridges require serious attention to oral hygiene and carry risks. The average life of bridges is similar to those of crowns, which is nearly ten years.

• Veneers

These are an ultra-thin, custom-made porcelain laminates which are bonded directly to the teeth. Veneers are an option for closing gaps, enhancing the shape, or changing the colour of teeth that do not respond well to whitening procedures.  Mock-ups are used as a tooth preparation guide before the fabrication of veneers. These allow the dentist to visualize any necessary changes to be done on the patient’s teeth with respect to shape, size, proportion, its relation to with gingival-contour, lip contour and smile line. It also gives clinicians an opportunity to check if they need any more corrections.

• Implants

These are prosthetic replacements for missing teeth. According to ICOI, there are three common parts which can be described as an implant- the implant device which is mainly made of titanium, the abutment, a dental crown or a denture connected to the implant through the abutment.

• Gum lifts

A gum lift is a cosmetic procedure that raises and sculpts the gum line. In this procedure, the tissue or underlying bones are reshaped to create the appearance of longer or more symmetrical teeth.

• Straightening

This process is used to correct crowded or misaligned teeth with the help of metal braces or clear aligners which is used as an alternative to metal braces. Clear aligners provide comparable results to metal braces and are generally more preferable due to them being less noticeable than metal braces.

• Bite reclamation

This is for patients that have years of excessive wear to their teeth due to grinding or acid reflux. This causes them to have a shorter or closed look to their face and smile. A qualified professional can reclaim their vertical dimension by opening up their bite.

Out of all these procedures, tooth bleaching, enamel bonding, dental veneers, Invisalign braces and enamel abrasions are the most common cosmetic dental procedures.

Treatment and whitening of teeth. Before and after cosmetic Dentistry. Close-up.

 EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Cosmetic dentistry is a widely practiced industry. Most cosmetic dentists receive training through other dental programs. Program training usually includes orthodontics, pain management, dental history and law, cosmetic dentistry and oral medicine.

REASONS TO VISIT A COSMETIC DENTIST

Some of the common reasons to visit a cosmetic dentist are as follows:

• Tooth decay
• Damages like cracked or chipped tooth
• Crooked teeth
• Misshapen teeth
• Discoloration
• Missing teeth

Most people having damaged, discolored, crooked or decaying teeth may have difficulty eating and speaking. For others, dental issues can cause problems in self-esteem. People may resign from participating in social activities due to their reluctance and embarrassment in smiling. Such insecurities can be prevented by visiting a cosmetic dentist who can improve the condition of your teeth.

We hope this article was helpful for you. We are a dental lab technician institute based in Cochin that offers one of the best dental lab technician courses in Kerala. We are also considered as one among the top dental institutes in Ernakulam. If you are interested, we would be happy to help you in paving your way for the future.

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