Dental Radiographs, commonly known as X-rays ,are used to diagnose hidden dental structures, bone loss and cavities . It helps them see the condition of your teeth, roots, jaw placement and facial bone compositions . In children X-rays allow the dentist to see how their teeth and jawbones are developing .Getting dental X-rays is must for all age groups when doing so, you eliminate the risk of tooth and gum diseases sneaking past your implacable dental hygiene .The risk from a single dental x-ray image is very small.

Taking x-rays in every 2-3 years can ensure our dental health. Its good to avoid any type of dental issues before it becomes serious. For getting the detailed analysis of your dental health ,dental x-rays are too good.

 What’s the need of dental x-rays​?

• Dental x-rays can easily track a minor decay in your teeth.
• Infections in root as well as in tooth we can identify.
• Tumors
• Mainly helps in the process of root canal.

By taking a simple x-ray we can easily diagnose many dental problems but, without taking a dental x-ray many dental problems gets undiagnosed.

Is dental x-rays are good for children?

Many of us think about the impact of radiation but, it is about a low rate of radiation. there is no need of any worry about dental x-rays and its radiation for children. Dental x-rays plays an important role in the young patients. The amount of radiation by taking an dental x-ray is considered as safe by the medical science.

Do x-rays affect pregnancy?

During pregnancy radiations are not good for the baby as well as the mother. Even a small radiation can cause big problems. especially in time of pregnancy avoid dental x-rays. Speak to the dentist about your pregnancy. he/she can  manage it in another way. So, don’t even try to take  dental x-ray during pregnancy. It affects the mental and physical growth of the baby. It also affects mother’s health too.

However dental x-rays are safe and highly effective for dental health. In time of any other situation related to the physical conditions , inform the dentist about that and make the dental x-ray and its radiation level minimum .There is no need of any risk in dental x-rays ,it helps us to clear many big and small dental issues. To have a better and healthy teeth radiographic features are important. So, don’t make yourself to think too much about this dental x-rays and radiations .Its all about a simple and effective process.

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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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