Root canals are important procedures used to treat and preserve teeth that have infected roots. The pulp, which contains nerve endings and tissues, is the live portion of the tooth that extends into the root. During a tooth infection or abscess, patients can experience pain, swelling and even total tooth loss unless treated. Root canals help remove the bacteria that are causing the infection of the tooth and root. Often antibiotics are also prescribed to help prevent further fight the infection within the tooth. Once the root canal is completed, the tooth is structurally weaker than it was before, therefore, Dr. Hira and Dr. Son will always recommend a crown on the too to prevent possible fractures.
Why?
Reasons for root canal therapy include, but are not limited to, a very deep cavity that extends into the nerve, trauma to the tooth that exposes the nerve or a crack in the tooth that extends into the nerve, etc. Root canal treatment should always be the choice you make before opting for an extraction. This because no prosthetic or denture will feel or work as well as your natural tooth. If a tooth is removed, it should have a replacement, otherwise, the surrounding teeth could shift. This could cause issues with your bite. Choosing to save your natural tooth is the best choice because it’s more affordable. It also helps you maintain your natural bite force, chewing, oral anatomy, and keeps a natural appearance.
Benefits
Endodontic treatment can usually be completed in one or a couple of visits. If you choose to extract the tooth this may only take one visit, however, you may require several subsequent visits if you would like to try and replace the missing space with a denture, bridge, or implant.
Saving any teeth that have been knocked out or damaged is about more than aesthetics. In fact, saving your teeth will preserve your natural smile, the way you talk, and the way you eat. Your teeth impact more of your life than you think! If you ever find yourself in a situation where you’ve experienced a traumatic dental injury, understanding how to save your tooth can mean the difference between having to get a prosthetic tooth and keeping your natural one.
Advancements in modern dentistry and the use of local anesthetics has made root canals highly tolerable procedures that are often no less comfortable than getting a standard filling. After finishing a Root canal procedure and allowing proper restoration of damaged tooth structure, the tooth will blend in with surrounding teeth and be undetectable to the average eye. More than 9 out of 10 root canal procedures are successful, and most treatments last many years or even a lifetime. Root canal treatment should always be the choice you make before opting for an extraction. This because no prosthetic or denture will feel or work as well as your natural tooth. If a tooth is removed, it should have a replacement, otherwise, the surrounding teeth could shift. This could cause issues with your bite. RCT is performed by entering the tooth through a small hole, removing the root and any damaged or infected pulp, cleaning it, and refilling with a substance called gutta-percha. If you are unsure whether a Root canal will work, just ask Dr. Son and Dr. Hira for their advice.
