In the past, tooth extraction was the go-to treatment for damaged, infected, or injured teeth. Luckily, today, endodontists can save and repair your teeth through root canal therapy. This treatment involves removing the infection or damage from inside your tooth.
Root canals are in the dental pulp, which consists of blood vessels and nerves and connective tissue. During the endodontic therapy, inflamed or infected pulp is removed, cleaned, and disinfected to eliminate bacteria and prevent future infections.
What is a root canal
Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the inside of your tooth. Generally, your teeth are made up of three parts, which include:
- Enamel: hard outer surface of your tooth
- Dentin: hard, yellow tissue below the enamel
- Pulp chamber: The pulp consists of soft tissue
However, due to infections, the pulp can become diseased or damaged. This is where a root canal therapy swoops in to save the day. This procedure comfortably treats discomfort that is caused by decay, toothache, sensitivity to hot or cold, and soreness. Generally, endodontic treatment is necessary for inflamed or infected soft tissue. The disease or inflammation results from a variety of causes. This includes:
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- Deep cavities
- Broken tooth
- Repeated dental treatments on the tooth
- Chipped or cracked tooth
- Trauma or injury
- Fractured tooth
These problems allow bacteria to enter the pulp and cause infections inside the tooth. Without treatment, pus pockets or tooth abscess build up at the tip of your root in the jawbone. If left untreated, the abscess can cause severe damage to the bone surrounding the bone or tissue or even lead to the extraction of your tooth.
How do you know that you need a root canal?
When the pulp becomes infected, it cannot repair itself, which causes the soft tissue to eventually die. The following are several symptoms that you need endodontic dental treatment.
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- You experience severe discomfort while biting or chewing.
- You have cheek swelling or tender gums.
- Your gums are darkening as a sign of deep decay.
- Your tooth is sensitive to hot or cold.
- There are pimples on your gums.
- You experience a toothache.
- There’s an abscess in the mouth.
Top 7 reasons you should get a root canal
- It prevents the infection from spreading. Generally, an infection in the root cavity causes toothaches or cavities. A canal treatment removes the bacteria causing the disease, which prevents the problem from becoming worse and offers permanent toothache relief.
- Final results are aesthetically appealing. Your dentist finishes a canal procedure by placing a dental filling, porcelain crown, or other restoration. The dental restoration protects your treated tooth and restores its full functionality.
- Saves your teeth for a lifetime. Unlike extracting your tooth, canal treatment allows you to maintain your natural teeth for a lifetime. However, you need to exercise proper oral care. Usually, after the procedure, your teeth return to their healthy state and function just like your natural teeth.
- Keeps the jawbone intact. Typically, a missing or lost tooth leads to degeneration of the jawbone over time. However, root canals can preserve your jawbone.
- Less painful during recovery. Root canal pain is less when you’re recovering as compared to having your tooth extracted. Additionally, endodontic therapy doesn’t require further dental work once the procedure is complete.
- Virtually painless. Due to modern dental techniques such as sedation dentistry and anesthetics, canal procedures are practically pain-free. In fact, according to the American Association of Endodontists, patients who choose root canals are likely to describe it as painless compared to having a tooth extracted.
- Efficient and cost-effective: Having your tooth extracted requires several follow-up dental visits for implants, dentures, or bridges. However, most dental insurance providers cover endodontic procedures, and treatment usually requires one or two dental visits.
Root canal treatment are successful
Root canal treatments have a 95% success rate. Usually, teeth fixed with canal procedures can last for a lifetime with good oral hygiene. Additionally, the final stage of a canal treatment involves the placement of a tooth restoration such as filling or crowns. Moreover, a root canal procedure not only repairs your tooth but also restores it to full functionality, just like your natural teeth.
Visit your nearest dentist markham today for a comfortable, safe, and effective endodontic therapy to keep you smiling confidently for a lifetime.