Are Root Canals Worth It?
No one likes pain, particularly around their face and head. However, pain and discomfort are inevitable when you have an infected tooth. It will persist even after you take over-the-counter pain-relieving medication. One of the methods dentists use to treat such a tooth is root canal treatment. Continue reading to learn whether root canals are worth it.
Getting to the Root of the Problem
When you have a persistent severe toothache, the dentist will evaluate it to determine the cause. They will take digital scans or x-rays of the tooth and jaw before recommending treatment. Whenever they recommend a root canal, it means your tooth has an infection inside it.
Your tooth contains more than the white part you see above the gums, called the crown. Instead, it has tooth roots that connect it to the jawbone and anchor it. Inside the roots is the dental pulp with nerves and tiny blood vessels. These nourish the tooth helping it to function.
When you have a tooth cavity, the hole may create access for bacteria to reach the pulp. You may also get infected tooth roots after dental trauma that affects the dental pulp. Also, if you receive several treatments on a tooth, it may break, allowing bacteria to enter and infect it.
These bacteria cause an infection in the nerves and blood vessels. As a result, your tooth will ache severely. In addition, you will experience tooth sensitivity whenever you take something cold or hot. This is because the nerves are exposed directly to extreme temperatures.
Unlike other tissues in the body, the tooth cannot heal or repair itself. Therefore, the infection will continue spreading. It will eventually destroy all the tissues inside the tooth. In addition, your tooth will start changing color due to the lack of adequate blood supply.
A root canal treatment focuses on removing the infected or dead tooth tissues. The dentist will clean the root canals thoroughly, eliminating all bacteria. They use various methods such as the traditional, Gentlewave or Waterlase System from Biolase.
They will then seal the tooth to keep bacteria away and prevent reinfection. Finally, the dentist in 48446 will place a customized crown on the treated tooth. The tooth-like cap will strengthen the tooth and restore its functionality and aesthetics. Therefore, the treatment will save the natural.
Why Do You Want to Choose a Root Canal?
There are various reasons why you would want to choose a root canal if you have an infected tooth. Some of them are:
- A root canal treats the infection in the dental pulp preventing it from spreading. The dentist will eliminate all bacteria and administer an antibiotic. Therefore, the disease will not extend to the nearest teeth or into the bloodstream.
- The pain and discomfort will not go away on their own. Also, the teeth will continue getting further damaged. Root canal therapy eliminates the pain and discomfort and prevents more tooth damage.
- The treatment will enable you to keep your natural tooth by restoring its function and aesthetics. Pulling out the tooth may seem easy and convenient, but it will lead to other issues. For example, missing teeth lead to jaw bone loss causing your face to appear sunken. It also leads to misalignment and increases the risk of oral health diseases.
Benefits of Root Canals
Root canal treatments by the dentist in 48446 have various benefits. They include:
- The procedure is fast, straightforward and painless. Your dentist can perform a root canal treatment in a single appointment. They administer anesthetics and sedatives to eliminate pain and discomfort during the procedure.
- Recovering from a root canal procedure is fast and has no complications. Your dentist will instruct you on how to care for the treated tooth.
- The therapy prevents tooth loss which will eventually occur if the tooth is not treated.
- The treatment improves oral and overall health enabling you to resume regular routines.
- It also saves you money that would have been spent on replacing the lost or extracted tooth in the future.
- A root canal procedure boosts your teeth’s aesthetics and improves your smile.
Do you have a toothache that does not quit? You may have an infection in the inner parts of the tooth. Contact us at Lapeer City Dental for an evaluation and treatment of your tooth.