Infected dental pulp can compromise the health and integrity of your mouth. If left untreated, an infection in a root canal can spread to your gums, other teeth and the underlying bone. During a root canal procedure, your dentist has the opportunity to save a dead or dying tooth without the need for a tooth replacement. Let’s take a look at this type of endodontic treatment and what you can expect.
What Is A Root Canal Treatment?
Sometimes bacteria can penetrate dental enamel, causing an infection in the dental pulp. There may be a small cavity or a crack in the surface of your dental enamel. You might experience pain when biting down or tooth sensitivity when you eat and drink hot and cold foods and beverages. Sometimes a pimple may appear on your gum or you may notice gum tissues darkening.
In order to establish if you have an infection in your dental pulp, your dentist will perform a visual exam and take an x-ray to get an idea of the extent of the infection.
What Can You Expect From A Root Canal Procedure?
During the root canal treatment, your dentist will drill a small hole in the surface of your tooth. Using special instrumentation he or she will clean out the infected tooth pulp and nerves. Depending on the extent of the infection, this could take more than one session to complete. It’s essential to remove all traces of bacteria because they multiply quickly and may cause a recurring infection.
Once your dentist has removed all of the infected matter, your tooth canals need to be irrigated and sealed up. This prevents more bacteria from accessing your tooth later on. Once this is complete, you will have a dental crown fitted over the hole. The end result will look, feel and function just like the other teeth in your mouth.
Why Saving Your Tooth Matters?
The goal of good dentistry is always to save a natural tooth. While dental implants come the closest to replacing a lost tooth, they are still not as effective as your natural teeth. Previously when patients had infected dental pulp, dentists would extract the tooth. Root canal therapy allows patients to retain their teeth without the complications and costs associated with having their teeth replaced.
When you have your natural teeth you can look forward to
- Chewing with ease and comfort
- Natural-looking teeth that compliment your facial aesthetics
- The ability to bite and chew with maximum force (and without thinking twice about it)
- Protection for your other teeth against excessive strain and wear.
You may also appreciate the advances that have taken place with regard to root canal treatment. For many years it was considered a very complex and painful procedure and patients tended to avoid it on this basis. By today’s standards, this endodontic treatment is relatively comfortable and efficient and commonly performed.
If you’d like to know more about a root canal procedure and what is involved it’s best to speak to a professional. Please contact us for an appointment: (02) 4210 9078
