For most people, the word “root canal” strikes them with fear. The drilling, the sounds, and the idea of a piece of tooth being removed is horrifying. The procedure must be unbearable in the minds of many.
But that is not true. Modern dentistry is nowhere close to being barbaric. Our dentist at Pearland, TX, is highly skilled in endontics and ensures that when you receive root canal treatment, it will be as painless and comfortable as expected.
Now, if you leave the infection to fester in your tooth, you will have a more severe problem on your hands. So let’s see how root canal treatment can save your natural tooth.
A root canal is the hollow part of the tooth that consists of the blood vessels, nerve tissue, and pulp. It is the soft part of the tooth. The pulp is what nourishes your tooth and moisturizes the surrounding areas.
This endodontic therapy aims to treat the pulp, which is either infected, inflamed, or dead. Root canal therapy is a straightforward therapy that relieves pain and saves your natural tooth in the process.
The infected pulp is removed, the area cleaned, disinfected, filled with a biocompatible material and sealed to prevent infection.
The nerve and pulp become inflamed, infected, and irritated because of deep decay, large fillings, repeated invasive dental procedures on a tooth, facial trauma, or a cracked tooth.
Typically, when the tooth’s pulp and the nerve get damaged, it will start to break down, providing room for bacteria to grow in the canal. The decayed debris and bacteria can cause an infection.
When the infection spreads beyond the ends of the root, it is called an abscess. In other words, picture a pus-filled pocket formed at the ends of the root.
Besides an abscess, the infection can cause something known as an embed asset override. Which is:
You might think that losing the nerve and pulp might affect your daily functions, but it will not. The role of the nerves once the tooth has matured is purely a sensory one. The main job is to help your tooth experience the hot and cold sensations.
Generally, you will need root canal therapy when you have a deep cavity or a cracked tooth. Additionally, you might need root canal therapy when you experience the following symptoms:
Root canal therapy will take between one to three visits to complete the following three steps:
Our dentist in Pearland, TX, will start by numbing the area around the tooth using local anesthesia, so you feel no pain. Our dentist will then drill an access hole into the tooth,so that the bacteria, decayed debris, and the bacteria can be removed.
Once our dentist has made sure all the debris has been removed, the dentist will shape the area. Then, the hollow area will be flooded with solutions to clean and disinfect it. After that, rubber-like material will be used to seal the canal.
The tooth will become more fragile than it previously was, since the pulp is not there to provide it with nourishment. It will however still receive some nourishment from the ligament which is still attached to the bone and tooth.
The nourishment will be enough to sustain the tooth, but it will need a crown or a filling to protect it from damage when it becomes brittle. The area will therefore be filled with the filling or covered with a crown.
With root canal therapy, the pain will be eliminated, but the tooth will remain. If you need root canal therapy, the dentist near you at Afroz Burges DDS, PA, is well-equipped to make your experience comfortable.
