What is root canal treatment?

A root canal treatment is done to remove the infected tissue from the root canal of your tooth so that you are relieved of the severe pain, thereby saving the tooth from extraction (removal of a tooth). 

When is the root canal treatment recommended?

Generally, root canal treatment is recommended when the tooth is infected and it is deeply extended to the pulp. However, the pulp can also become infected and dead if the tooth had a trauma, leading to non-vitality of the tooth. Thus such conditions will also require a root canal treatment. If it is left untreated, the infection can become severe enough to undergo extraction.

What are the signs and symptoms of root canal infection?

Inflammation, swelling and abscess formation around the affected tooth. Gum tenderness when biting or chewing on the affected side. Tooth hypersensitivity to hot or cold drinks and foods. Tooth discolouration. Severe dental pain. However, sometimes, patients with root canal infection may not feel any discomfort.

How a Root Canal Treatment is performed?

Root canal treatment is usually performed either in a single visit or with multiple visits depending on the severity of disease which usually lasts for 30 to 90 minutes per visit. Dentists will take an x-ray of the affected tooth to know the extent of the infection and to plan the treatment. Then, local anaesthesia will be given to numb the area where the procedure is going to be performed. The tooth will be isolated from saliva and the surrounding environment by using cotton or rubber dams. Then the dentist will drill a hole into the affected tooth using a dental bur to gain access to the pulp cavity and to remove the infected or dead pulp, nerve, and tissues. The cleaned and shaped root canal will be then filled with an inert rubber-like material called Gutta-percha. Finally, the tooth will be restored with a crown. 

How much does it cost for a root canal procedure approximately?

In India, the cost of a root canal procedure averaging between INR 2000 and INR 5000.