Your Guide to Endodontic Therapy: Everything You Need to Know

Endodontic therapy is the process of diagnosing and treating root canal infections. It’t a rather unusual field of dentistry. The term “root canal” sounds like something from an old-time horror movie.

But endodontic therapy is nothing to be afraid of; in fact, it actually offers great benefits to patients who have a history of dental trauma or decay. Discover why you should become more familiar with this specialty and how endodontic therapy can help your oral health.

ENDO stands for “endodontics,” which are procedures that involve the inner chambers (or roots) of the teeth. Root canal treatment has been used by dentists since the early 1900s and has saved millions of people from experiencing extreme pain or losing their teeth.

If you have ever had a toothache that just wouldn’t go away, it might be due to a hidden infection inside your tooth known as pulpitis or endocarditis. The pulp chamber contains blood vessels, nerves, and soft tissue covering the crown of your tooth.

What is Endodontic Therapy?

Endodontic therapy refers to the process of treating infections inside the dental pulp, which is a soft tissue found inside your teeth.

The pulp is responsible for producing your blood and nerves, so it’s a pretty important part of your teeth! If you have a tooth infection, it will likely spread to your dental pulp.

This can cause pain and swelling, and may also lead to a toothache. That’s why it’s important to get an endodontic evaluation if you have symptoms of dental pulpitis.

Why Have Endodontic Therapy?

If you’ve ever had a toothache so bad that it wakes you up in the middle of the night, you are probably familiar with the pain of a dental infection. A dental infection can occur if a tooth becomes decayed or broken, or if a dental procedure is done improperly.

If left untreated, a dental infection can spread to the dental pulp and cause a condition known as “toothache.” If a tooth becomes infected, having endodontic therapy would be beneficial because the root canal procedure removes the infected pulp tissue and replaces it with an inert material.

The main reason to have endodontic therapy is to treat the infection, allowing your body to heal the decayed tooth and the gum surrounding it.

What Happens During The Procedure?

The dentist will first administer a local anesthetic to numb the area where they are performing the procedure. Once the area is numb, they will make a series of small holes in the tooth where they will insert a tiny instrument known as a “endodontic file.”

The file will scrape out the infection in the dental pulp and clean out the root canal. If the infection is bad enough to warrant it, the dentist will fill the root canal with an antibacterial material or put a crown or filling over the tooth’s opening to prevent bacteria from getting in and infecting it again.

It’s Going to Hurt…A Lot.

Endodontic therapy is often described as one of the most painful procedures in dentistry. In fact, many patients describe it as one of the worst experiences of their life. While the dentist is administering the anesthetic, you’ll probably feel like you’re going to faint.

When the anesthetic kicks in, you’ll only feel a brief sensation akin to the prick of a needle. However, when the dentist starts filing the infected tissue, you may experience one of the most painful sensations of your life.

People describe the sensation as a “bite” or “stab” in the area of the infected tooth. The majority of patients say that it is much more painful than getting a root canal.

When Should You Get Endodontic Therapy?

In most cases, your dentist will recommend endodontic therapy if you develop a tooth infection or have a history of dental trauma.

If you have a toothache and a dentist does an examination and suspects a dental infection, they will often recommend that you get root canal therapy. You should also consider root canal therapy if you have a history of dental trauma, such as a cracked or broken tooth.

This can make your tooth more susceptible to infection, but root canal therapy can save the tooth from having to be pulled out. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should see a dentist immediately:

How Much Does Endodontic Therapy Cost?

The cost of endodontic therapy varies depending on the severity of your condition and where you live in the world. Depending on where you live in the world, the average cost of endodontic therapy can range anywhere between $500 and $3,000.

The cost of endodontic therapy can vary depending on where you live in the world, the severity of your condition, and the type of materials your dentist uses to treat you.

Final Words: Wrapping up

As you can see, endodontic therapy can save your teeth if they become infected. It’s important to avoid getting a toothache, because it can lead to a much more serious condition.

If you experience any of the symptoms of a dental infection, such as a toothache, you should see a dentist immediately. Having endodontic therapy is usually a quick and relatively painless procedure.

You should be able to go back to your daily life after just a few hours. If you don’t have endodontic therapy, an infection could spread to the surrounding tissues and cause even more damage.