The possibility of getting a root canal treatment may not excite you. But if you have seriously decayed teeth or root or pulp infection, this treatment may be necessary. A lot of people have fears about root canal treatment, but it can salvage teeth. Rather than having your affected tooth removed, you can keep your smile and a mouth filled with healthy teeth. By performing a root canal procedure, a Commerce City family dentistry professional can save your infected root canals from extraction or abscess.
Understanding Root Canals
Your root canals are the hollow chambers in the roots of your teeth that contain the nerves and dental pulp. The pulp is composed of nerve endings and living material, which transmit messages to your brain and cause discomfort or pain when inflamed or irritated. It is the tooth’s innermost layer that can be damaged when the tooth structure is compromised or due to serious tooth decay.
A healthy tooth won’t expose the root to plaque or bacteria. But a cracked, chipped, or badly damaged tooth and an infected gum will make the root vulnerable to infection. A root canal procedure can save a tooth that has dead pulp or serious decay.
How to Know If You Have Root Canal Infection
You may have an infected or exposed root canal if you experience tooth pain. Discomfort can take place as a persistent sharp pain or nagging ache whenever you bite on food or consume a cold or hot drink. When the infection is treated promptly, the nerve endings will die and stop the pain, but the infection remains. In fact, the infection may spread and lead to abscesses around the roots’ base.
Importance of Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy can save an infected tooth. When left untreated, the infection can lead to complications that may necessitate tooth extraction. Tooth loss because of disease or injury has serious impacts on your oral health and well-being. Thus, it is important to save your real tooth when possible.
Your dentist will examine the damaged or diseased tooth first and suggest a suitable treatment option. A root canal procedure is performed to clean the infected tooth from its pulp chamber to stop the infection from spreading. Then, your dentist will fill the tooth chamber and use a crown to protect your tooth from damage.
Root canal therapy is less invasive than tooth extraction. Your dentist will use an appropriate anesthetic to guarantee your comfort throughout the procedure.
Why Avoid Extractions as Much as Possible?
Sometimes, a dentist may recommend the removal of a tooth instead of performing a root canal procedure. This is possible if it is no longer possible to save the tooth due to serious damage or infection. When a tooth infection gets into your bloodstream, it can reach other vital body parts such as your brain and heart. While a tooth extraction is cheaper than a root canal procedure, the cost of replacing the missing tooth can be more significant than the extraction cost. Plus, missing a tooth can affect your self-confidence, possibly stopping you from socializing.
How to Care for Your Teeth Following a Root Canal Procedure
Post-procedure care is important for your recovery. Following the procedure, do not chew hard foods until you are given the green light by your dentist. Brush and floss your teeth regularly to prevent future infections. Also, do not miss your follow-up dental appointments because these are necessary to monitor the healing of the treated tooth. Your dentist can offer detailed aftercare instructions to help you recover quickly and keep your mouth healthy.
Root canal treatments are reliable dental care procedures. They get rid of infections, alleviate pain, and save your natural teeth. This routine, effective procedure has long-term benefits. So, if you are experiencing symptoms of an infected tooth root or have issues with your teeth, visit your dentist as soon as possible.
