Root canal treatment (RCT) Endodontic Treatment for damaged or infected teeth
RCT success and failures and retreatments
A root canal treatment (RCT) is a common endodontic treatment for damaged or infected teeth. An endodontist or a dentist performs RCT to treat tooth pulp infections, inflammations, or decayed teeth.
RCT treatment eliminates the infection and prevents reinfections of the teeth. RCTs are typically painless procedures and preserve your original tooth.
What is RCT?
RCT is a dental procedure that treats the soft tissue mass called the pulp within the teeth.The tooth pulp is the hollow, innermost layer of the tooth consisting of blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerve tissues. RCT removes the damaged or injured pulp and keeps the affected tooth intact.
Modern root canal treatments are simple and may be completed with minimal sittings. The procedure is done under local anesthesia.
Steps of root canal treatment:
During consultation, the dentist assesses the extent of damage and confirms whether you are a good candidate for an RCT procedure.
The dentist will:
- Take dental X-rays
- Check tooth sensitivity and pain
- Perform EPT (electric pulp test)
- Look for other signs of infection or inflammation in the tooth or gums
RCT procedure steps include:
- The dentist injects local anesthesia to numb the affected tooth and the gum
- A small hole is drilled into the infected tooth’s crown to gain access to the pulp
- The infected nerves and blood vessels are removed using dental instruments
- The dentist cleans the hollow area with irrigation solutions and fills it with a rubbery material called “gutta-percha.”
- A soft temporary filling or sealant is applied to protect the tooth
- Finally, the dental crown is placed
When do you need a root canal treatment?
A root canal treatment is recommended if the pulp is infected or damaged due to:
- Long-term tooth decay caused by untreated cavity
- Crack on the tooth
- Injury or trauma to the tooth
- If you had several dental procedures
How successful are root canal treatments?
Normally, root canal treatments have high success rates around 95%, making it one of the best treatments to preserve the natural tooth.
Can RCTs last a lifetime?
A root canal treatment if done properly can last more than a decade and even a lifetime. However, the success rate and longevity of the RCT treatmentis influenced by several factors:
- Whether the treatment was done correctly
- Age of the patient
- Restoration quality
- Location of infected tooth
When do we need root canal retreatment?
A failure in root canal treatment may require a re-treatment.
Symptoms of root canal failure include:
- Gum inflammation around the infected tooth
- Increased sensitivity
- Prolonged pain after the initial RCT
- Pus discharge
- Appearance of bumps in the gum
RCT is mostly successful. Sometimes, the treated tooth does not heal properly or may develop complications after years of initial RCT.
Root canal complications occur due to:
- Tooth contamination during RCT can lead to post-proceduralinfections
- Wrong placement of the crown
- Delay in the placement of the final crown which increases the risks of infections
- Inadequate treatment where some parts of the tooth canals were not cleaned properly
- Growth of additional roots or hidden tooth roots that were not removed during the procedure
- Hairline cracks in the tooth which can lead to bacteria formation
- Root perforation where a root was accidentally punctured or damaged and was left unsealed
Root canal retreatment can be done in a single consultation. It depends on the complications. During the treatment, the crown and other fillings are removed. Dental instruments are used to clean and re-shape the canal. Dental X-rays are taken to diagnose the complications.
The canal is then filled and sealed and a temporary crown is placed. After some time, a new permanent crown is then placed to cover the tooth.
Root canal Treattment covered under endodontics course where dentsts learn advanced RCT. AADEINDIA Dental academy advance in RCT and related to endodontics procedures
Final thoughts
A root canal is an effective treatment for restoring a single damaged tooth and the procedure allows you to keep the natural tooth. It is an alternative solution for extraction which is more complicated, uncomfortable, and removes your natural tooth.
