Root Canals
Root Canals in Costa Rica:
Among the procedures that you can have done through the Medical Tours Costa Rica Medical Tourism Group is endodontic therapy. Root canals can be a simple or complex procedure, and you might need more than one visit to the dentist to complete it, depending on the reason why you need the root canals in the first place.
Your Teeth:
When viewed in a mirror, you can only see the hard outer layer of your teeth or the enamel. However, there is a soft layer underneath which is known as the dentin or calcified tissue.
At the center of each of your teeth lies a hollow chamber holding the pulp, which is made up of connective tissue, nerves, and vessels bringing nourishment to the teeth.
Narrow channels connecting the pulp chamber and root tips lie in the root area, and these channels allow blood vessels and nerves to reach your teeth from the jaw. It is these channels that are called root canals, and your teeth can contain 1 to 4 and even 5 canals, depending on how many roots each of your teeth has.
The process:
Endodontic treatment varies in complexity depending on the number of channels, especially if there are horizontal channels in your teeth. This variation in number can also lead to complications, as well as endodontic treatment failure.
During the process, a small hole is drilled by the dentist in your tooth, and this enables the tooth to be cleaned out thoroughly. Endodontic therapy eliminates infection, cleans out the pulp, and protects what becomes an uncontaminated tooth from further infection.
There will be a crown placed on the tooth over the area that was treated to protect it and keep it from breaking or getting damaged. Once the root canal or root canals procedure is done, you will be able to go home, but you will need to follow the instructions given to you by the dentist.
Although treatment failure is only about 5%, there are other complications that can occur after the procedure. One of the most common complication is infection after undergoing the process.
Infection can occur for several reasons including, but not limited to:
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Inadequate cleaning
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A missed canal
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Improper filling
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Defective Restoration
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Improper disinfection
Root Canals are Available through Medical Tours Costa Rica:
The process generally takes about 2 hours to complete.
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There is no hospitalization needed since this process is done on an outpatient basis.
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The expected recovery time is 7 to 10 days and then you will be cleared to travel home.
The Dentist:
The dental professional who will be carrying out the endodontic therapy process is Marcella Zapata, a maxillofacial surgeon whose experience with this type of procedure in particular and dentistry in general, as well as her training, education and dedication are unequaled in the region. Take a look at Doctor Zapata’s credentials because we are sure that you want nothing but the best when it comes to someone working on your teeth and mouth.
When should I consider having endodontic therapy?
This procedure may be required when you experience any or all of the following:- You have a severe toothache and it intensifies upon chewing or application of pressure
- You have had prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
- You have tooth discoloration or darkening
- You have tenderness and swelling in the nearby gums
- You have recurring or persistent pimple on the gums
*Note: You need to get regular dental examinations because there are sometimes no symptoms present.
The damage that will lead to a root canal is generally when the nerve of the tooth is infected and the pulp is damaged. The dentist will remove the pulp and nerve from the damaged tooth, the inside of the tooth is completely cleaned, and it is then sealed.
What about pain?
In general, these procedures have a bad reputation of being excruciatingly painful, but most people report that it is no more painful than getting or replacing a filling. What is actually the most painful part of the entire process is the pain that comes from the nerve being infected and the pulp being damaged in the first place.
More information about the process as well as a free quote regarding the procedure are available by filling out our contact form so that one of our consultants can contact you with prices and all of the necessary information. Additionally, you can call 1-866-665-6433, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Standard Time, Monday to Friday for more information on this type of procedure.
There is more general information on root canals available in Wikipedia.