Endodontics is refered to one of the commonly known procedures in dentistry called root canal therapy which involves the treatment of the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels inside the hardest part of your tooth. The reasons for inflammation or infection inside the root might be different, it can be the deep cavity that has destroyed the tooth structure or untreated gum disease spreading the infection. If infected badly, nerves inside the root get exposed to the food particles, sensitivity of the tooth increases and the patient suffers with unbearable pain while chewing or drinking.

What happens if it is left untreated?

It is hard to sustain the pulp infection pain and generally patients immediately rush to hospitals for proper treatment to get the relief. However, if left untreated, the infection can spread deep inside and destroy the bone bearing the tooth, further weakening it resulting in cracking or breaking down completely. Hence, the root canal procedure has to be followed as soon as the symptoms occur, where the infected pulp tissue inside the harder shell will be removed to protect the tooth from further damage. As a part of home care treatment some people follow certain remedies to lessen the pain, but remember it gives only temporary relief but not permanent cure for the infection.

Treatment or procedure

The endodontic treatments are little bit irritating initially but once the procedure is done, patient gets complete relief from the pain. The number of steps or doctor visits vary from one case to the other and depend on the level of infection. The procedure is almost equal to the routine filling where the infection that has spread deep inside gets removed, cleaned & disinfected and then filled with filling material to seal it. Once the tooth is restored, dentists advice for a crown or cap to cover the tooth and protect the filling from falling out.

What can you expect after the treatment?

The primary advantage with treatment is the tooth continues to function normally, with no strain while biting or chewing. More than anything else, the patient will have no throbbing pain that has been caused by the tooth sensitivity or nerve exposure. There will not be any change in the appearance or jaw structure and it looks almost natural like before. In very rare cases, the treatment fails to heal and patient continues to experience pain even after the procedure. Sometimes, the pain subsides initially but comes back after few months or years. In such cases, it is essential to visit the doctor immediately for further suggestions or treatments.