Why is Root Canal Treatment Important?

If you experience frequent tooth pain or have visible signs of swelling, your teeth could be infected, and a visit to an endodontist near you is needed. When you have a severe tooth infection, the best treatment is the root canal treatment.

A root canal therapy is an endodontic treatment done to remove the infected pulp to stop the spread of the infection and preserve your teeth. Why is the procedure important? Here are three reasons why:

1. Root Canal Preserves You Dental Structure

In the past, the only treatment of choice for a severely infected tooth was tooth extraction. However, with modern dental tools, a painless root canal treatment can be done to save your teeth. The primary benefit of getting a tooth is that it prevents tooth extraction.

Though some people may assume tooth removal is better than a root canal, it is not. When your teeth are removed, they do not grow back. Secondly, they leave gaps in between. These gaps left unfilled for an extended time will cause the surrounding teeth to shift to the available spaces. Furthermore, the alveolar bone starts to deteriorate. These weaken the dental structure and cause the other teeth to weaken too.

You can stop jaw degradation if you get a root canal procedure.

2. Root canal stops the spread of infections

When the pulp gets infected, the infection can spread to the nerves and soft tissues affecting the other teeth. Worse than that, the infection can get into the bloodstream and affect the rest of the body. This can cause widespread inflammation or sepsis, which is a life-threatening disease.

A root canal treatment removes the infected pulp early before the infection spreads to the rest of the body.

3. Root canal therapy improves your smile

An endodontic procedure does not leave unsightly gaps like a tooth extraction. After the pulp is removed, our dentist in Granville will use a dental crown to restore the strength and function of the teeth. These crowns are usually made of tooth-colored porcelain, which creates a seamless look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How Can I Know I Need a Root Canal Procedure?

Several symptoms that indicate you need a root canal treatment:

• Pimples on the gums
• Chipped and cracked teeth/tooth
• Lingering tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink cold or hot foods
• Severe pain while chewing food
• Swollen or tender gums
• Darkening gums

Q. What to Expect During the Procedure?

A root canal treatment is carried out in one to two dental visits, and it involves a few steps:

• Dental examination. On your first dental visit, our Village family dentist will examine your teeth for the severity of the infection and how far it spread. Your gums are numbed to ease the discomfort, and the affected teeth are isolated from the rest to keep them free of saliva.
• The teeth are opened using tiny dental instruments. The dentist then cleans the pulp and shapes it in preparation for the dental filling.
• A biocompatible material (not harmful and gentle to the gums) is used to fill the canal. It is then sealed with a rubber-like material. The dentist places a temporary filling on the teeth to protect it.
• On the final dental visit, a permanent dental crown is placed on the teeth to restore its function and create an appealing look.

Q. Is the Process Painful?

No, the root canal procedure is not painful. The dentist not only uses local anesthesia but may also use dental sedation. Sedation dentistry comes in handy if you suffer from severe teeth sensitivity, have a gag reflex and dental phobia.

Q. What Happens After the Root Canal?

After the root canal procedure, you may have tooth sensitivity. The discomfort clears after a few hours, but the dentist will prescribe pain-relieving medication to ease the pain.

Take Away!

Recurring tooth pain can be a nuisance and disrupt your life. Do not let the pain get out of hand; visit Town & Country Dentistry for more information on the root canal and how it can save your teeth.