Frequently Asked Questions about Root Canal Treatment

A root canal treatment is a dental procedure that takes away the pain from a tooth that is infected or has an abscess. During a root canal, the inflamed pulp is taken out of the tooth. Then, the surfaces inside the tooth are cleaned and sanitized, and a filling is put in to seal the space. In short, it is a dental technique that removes the diseased pulp from a root canal and replaces it with sterile material.

Patients will be required to undergo root canal therapy in the event that dental X-rays demonstrate that a bacterial infection has caused the pulp to become infected and deteriorate. In the event that the pulp is tainted by bacteria, it has the potential to get irritated, which in turn would make it simpler for the germs to multiply and spread.  This will cause tooth pain, and teeth sensitivity and in the long run lose the teeth completely.

Root Canal treatment helps to save your natural teeth.  The decaying portion of your tooth will be removed by your dentist, and the healthy portion of your tooth will be left in place. Your dentist will then cover the remaining part of your tooth with a dental filling or a dental crown, depending on the severity of the decay.

If the damage or decay is considerable, your dentist will propose removing the tooth and replacing it with an artificial tooth by means of a dental implant. This procedure will be recommended in the event that the tooth is severely damaged or decayed.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may require treatment with a root canal.

Pain in the teeth that is constant and severe
A tooth that is broken, shattered or otherwise wounded.
Intolerance to extremely warm or cold food or drink
A significant amount of tooth deterioration
Swollen or sensitive gums
Loose teeth or teeth that move around
Discoloration of the teeth
concerns brought up in earlier filings

Root canals are a common, standard procedure for saving infected teeth.

Root canal treatments often only require one trip to the dentist and it will not exceed two hours. If your teeth condition is severe, then it is quite likely that the treatment will require a minimum of two trips to the dentist.

If you have decay in one of your teeth and choose not to get it repaired, the problem will get even more severe since the decay will spread to your other teeth. If you put off going to the dentist until you are experiencing a large degree of discomfort, your dental practitioner may need to conduct a root canal procedure on more than one of your teeth. This will cost you more money and pain than it would have if you had dealt with it when it was painless.

The main benefit is saving your natural tooth and relieving the pain and discomfort of long-lasting toothaches, severe tooth decay, and sensitive teeth.  The treatment will help you keep your natural smile and you can keep eating the foods you love. It will also reduce the need for more dental work in the future. If cared for properly, most root canal treatments can last a lifetime.

Keeps your natural tooth
relieves pain and discomfort
Reduces the chance of the infection spreading to nearby teeth; improves oral and overall health.

This is a complicated procedure but it is often done and is usually safe. But because it is so delicate in nature, there are some risks.

A root canal can lead to an infection, but the risk is minimal if you follow the dentist's advice and exact instructions
Not being able to reach the whole length of a root canal

This is asked by most of our patients. Do not worry! There is a misconception that root canals are painful, but the truth is they are not. The sensation you will have will be similar to getting a filling. The area will be numbed before the procedure, so you won't feel any pain while it is done. Matter of fact this treatment helps to ease the severe pain that comes from an infected tooth.

A tooth infection can lead to other dental problems, so it's important to get treatment right away. The infected tooth can be taken out instead of having a root canal. But we recommend our patients, for root canal treatment to keep their natural teeth whenever they can. Bridges and implants can be used to replace missing teeth, but nothing is as good as a real tooth. With a root canal, you can keep your natural tooth instead of having it pulled out. A root canal is also cheaper than having a tooth extraction and then getting an implant or bridge to replace it.

Also, if the missing tooth is not replaced shortly after it has been taken, having teeth pulled can lead to a loss of bone density in the jaw. This is especially true if the lost tooth is not replaced. Loss of bone density can alter the appearance of a person's facial structure, making them look older than they really are.

When the inner part of a tooth is taken away, the structure of the tooth as a whole gets weaker. But it can be fixed with a dental crown or onlay to make it stronger. After the root canal is done, we will make sure your tooth is strong by giving it the right care.

Before the procedure, you should refrain from consuming alcohol and smoking for a full 24 hours

Should eat before the procedure, a couple of hours ahead, because due to anesthetic the patient's mouth may feel numb for several hours afterwards. This can make it difficult for the patient to eat.

Take a painkiller before the procedure if advised by the dentist

Get at least eight hours of sleep the night before and the night after for better recovery

Ask all your questions, when you go to the dentist, you can ask any amount of questions. It's important to know the whole process and what's going on in the big picture.

When the anesthesia wears off, you won't feel the same severe pain you did before the root canal. The inner nerves have been taken out, giving you relief. Most patients find that the area hurts for a few days while the surrounding tissues heal.  Our dentist will recommend pain medication.

Insurance:

Yes! Because the root canal treatment is performed for the benefit of the patient's oral health and is not considered a cosmetic dentistry operation, the majority of dental insurance plans will, in fact, pay the cost of the procedure. Please check with your insurance provider for details.

CHAS:

At Smilepoint Dental Centre Singapore, cardholders with the CHAS Blue, CHAS Orange, MG, and PG programs can get subsidies for root canal treatment. The following table provides an overview of the claim maximum and minimum that are applicable to each cardholder. 5