Do you have tooth pain, cracked or fractured teeth, or are your teeth susceptible to hot and cold foods and drinks? No need to fear; a root canal is here to save your tooth.
These could be symptoms of tooth inflammation; if left untreated, you might lose the tooth altogether. A root canal treatment can save your teeth and preserve the remaining tooth without extraction. These could be symptoms of tooth inflammation; if left untreated, you might lose the tooth altogether. A root canal treatment can save your teeth and preserve the remaining tooth without extraction.
If your dentist or endodontist advised you to undergo a root canal treatment or if you are looking for more information before the visit, either way, you are at the right place. This article will explain what is root canal treatment, how the entire treatment procedure is done, the risk and benefits, cost and subsidy options, and aftercare dos and don’ts. So you would know what to expect beforehand and, most importantly, how it can relieve your tooth problem and save your tooth at the same time.
Root Canal
To know what is a root canal, it is best to understand the structure of the tooth, the anatomy will give you a clear idea of what exactly a tooth canal is. There are two main parts to the teeth; The dental crown (the area of a tooth opened to the oral cavity) and the tooth root (the part below the crown is the tooth root).1
- Enamel – The hardest bodily tissue covering the surface of the dental crown. Did you know it is as hard as a crystal?
- Dentine – It is the layer immediately underneath the enamel. The main supporting structure of the tooth.
- Pulp – It is the living part of the tooth. The innermost layer runs up to the root. It’s made of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue and it gives the tooth vital nutrients to keep it “alive,” and functioning.
Root Canal Treatment
Also, known as endodontics is a complex yet common dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth.2 The pulp of the tooth gets infected (by tooth decay or bacteria entering via the cracks) you will start to feel the tooth pain. The dentists will remove the infected pulp tissue, disinfect the root canal system and seal it with an inert material. This helps to keep your natural teeth and also fix tooth pain and discomfort.
What are the symptoms?
Consistent and severe tooth pain
A chipped/cracked/injured tooth
Sensitivity to hot or cold food/drink
Extensive tooth decay
Swollen or tender gums
Loose or moving teeth
Tooth discolouration
Issues from previous fillings
How Do I Know If I Need a Root Canal Treatment?
Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Saves your natural tooth
Gets rid of pain and discomfort
Reduces the chance of infection of neighbouring teeth
Boosts oral and overall health
Possible Complications (Risks)
Infection after root canal
Inability to gain access to the full length of a root canal.
The Treatment Process
Now let’s embark on the journey. This is a specialist treatment, done at the dental clinic, by an experienced dentist or a specialised dentist called an endodontist. Endodontists are specialised and trained to manage tooth pain and root canal treatments.3 You may need to visit the dentist at least two or more times. Here is what to expect.
Now let’s embark on the journey. This is a specialist treatment, done at the dental clinic, by an experienced dentist or a specialised dentist called an endodontist. Endodontists are specialised and trained to manage tooth pain and root canal treatments.3 You may need to visit the dentist at least two or more times. Here is what to expect.
Stage 1: Consultation:
Assessment of Condition: The very first visit will be a consultation session to assess your tooth condition. To evaluate your dentist will take a tooth X-ray and a pulp vitality test. This is to determine the severity of the infection, whether or not you require a root canal treatment, and if you do, to assess the extent of the procedure.
Stage 2: Root canal Procedure
Root Canal Treatment Process: This will be your second visit. The dental treatment will start with the administration of an Anaesthetic, Isolating the tooth, removing the infected pulp and filling the tooth. The average treatment time is 30 to 60 minutes long. More complex cases may take longer time. The dentist may even suggest dental crowning if necessary.
(1) Preparation
Isolate the damaged tooth: A protective sheet keeps the spot clean and protects it from saliva.
(2) Remove Infected Pulp
The entire root canal space is cleaned and disinfected.
(3) Filling of the Tooth
Temporary filling – seal the canals with adhesive cement to prevent bacteria from re-entering.
(4) Completion
(Based on the Dentist’s recommendation)
Stage 3: Post-Operative Care
Aftercare: Root canal treatment is a surgical procedure so you may feel sensitive around the area, and soreness/tenderness may last a couple of days around your jaw, but you will be relieved from the original pain and discomfort from the infected tooth. Most patients usually take about a few days to recover and in rare cases 2-3 weeks.
A follow-up appointment may be scheduled when required.
Do’s And Dont’s After A Root Canal Treatment
You may be wondering what to expect at the recovery stage and most importantly what should you do and don’t. Here is a list for you to follow up after the treatment
Immediately After
The pain and discomfort should be minimal.
Take the medication prescribed by your dentist.
The Next Few Days
Eat and drink soft food like smoothies, yoghurt, soups, soft salads, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, eggs, milk, bananas, mangos, pears and peaches, applesauce, pudding and hummus. Once your permanent restoration is placed, you can return to your normal diet,
Your mouth is susceptible to infections, therefore oral hygiene is a priority.
Continue taking your medication as prescribed
Better to use the opposite side to chew food that the side root canal treatment done
Carefully brush your teeth
In the long-run
Remember not to miss any dentist appointments
A recent literature review of endodontics suggests that a relatively low percentage of patients (little over 5%) who underwent root canal treatment have reported at least some form of pain for a longer time (6 months or more).4
Root Canal Treatment Cost
Root canal treatment cost depends on various factors starting from the location and the condition of the affected tooth, any additional treatments (crowns) required, the type of dentist (general or endodontist) you visit, and what type of insurance, if any, you may have.
Location of the tooth: Molars tend to be the largest, then premolars and anterior teeth. The complexity increases when there are more roots and multiple roots within a canal.
| Tooth Type/Location | Root Canal Treatment Cost |
|---|---|
| Anterior Tooth | S$ 685 (w/o GST) |
| Premolar Tooth | S$ 790 (w/o GST) |
| Molar Tooth | S$ 985 (w/o GST) |
This is a fee estimate & subject to change. Please check with your clinician for an exact fee based on your unique clinical condition.
CHAS Subsidies for Root Canal
| Treatment Type | CHAS Orange Subsidy | CHAS Blue Subsidy | Merdeka Generation (MG) Subsidy | Pioneer Generation (PG) Subsidy | Claim Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root canal treatment (anterior) | $109.50 | $164 | $169 | $174 | Up to 2 root canal treatments per calendar year* |
| Root canal treatment (premolar) | $140 | $210 | $215 | $220 | Up to 2 root canal treatments per calendar year* |
| Root canal treatment (molar) | $170.50 | $256.50 | $261.50 | $266.50 | Up to 2 root canal treatments per calendar year* |
| X-rays | $0 | $11 | $16 | $21 | Up to 6 X-rays per calendar year |
| Consultation | $ 0 | $20.50 | $25.50 | $30.50 | Up to 2 consultations per calendar year** |
* Shared across all types of partial root canal treatments * * With a 6-month interval between the 2 consultation claims within the calendar year.
MediSave Subsidies for Root Canal
What is a Root Canal failure?
Root canal treatment is generally safe and effective, with a success rate of more than 95%.6 Most of the time it will last for a lifetime. However, if the treated teeth cause pain, swelling or any discharge; It could be a sign of a root canal failure. Call your endodontist right away and other alternate treatments will be suggested.
Alternatives to endodontics or Root Canal
Can other treatments be done instead of a root canal? Well, a root canal is used to save a tooth that is infected or decayed. There are alternate dental treatments to a root canal such as direct pulp capping (dentin repair to maintain vital pulp), a pulpotomy (done on teeth that are alive), a pulpectomy (done on teeth that are no longer alive), endodontic retreatment (reopening and filling), endodontic surgery (done for small fractures or hidden canals not detected on x-ray), tooth extraction, dental implants, bridges, or dentures.
These could be symptoms of tooth inflammation; if left untreated, you might lose the tooth altogether. A root canal treatment can save your teeth and preserve the remaining tooth without extraction.
Conclusion
A dentist who specialised in this treatment is called an “endodontist,” who has undergone special training in root canal treatments. The procedure is done to remove the infected pulp tissue, disinfect the root canal system, and seal it with an inert material so that the remaining structure of the teeth is saved and also relieves tooth pain and discomfort. This treatment requires more than one visit to the dentist. The cost of the treatment mainly depends on the location and complexity of the tooth affected. There are insurance schemes that can get subsidies, including CHAS. In general, it is a technique that is often performed, has a high likelihood of success, and has the potential to last a lifetime provided proper care is taken of it.
References
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1999, May 4). Tooth | Definition, Anatomy, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/tooth-anatomy
- American Association of Endodontists. (2021, December 10). What is a Root Canal?https://www.aae.org/patients/root-canal-treatment/what-is-a-root-canal/
- American Association of Endodontists. (2022b, August 30). What’s the difference between a dentist and an endodontist? https://www.aae.org/patients/why-see-an-endodontist/whats-difference-dentist-endodontist/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3697825/#:~:text=A%20recent%20meta%2Danalysis%20of,months%20or%20longer%20following%20treatment
- Conditions & Services Covered. (n.d.). https://www.chas.sg/conditions-and-services-covered
- Gorni, F. G., Andreano, A., Ambrogi, F., Brambilla, E., & Gagliani, M. (2016). Patient and Clinical Characteristics Associated with Primary Healing of Iatrogenic Perforations after Root Canal Treatment: Results of a Long-term Italian Study. Journal of Endodontics, 42(2), 211–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2015.11.006
