The Role of Root Canal Treatment in Dentistry
May 01, 2020
A root canal is one of the most dreaded dental procedures. The mention of it gets some people into major dental anxiety. These fears, unfortunately, are informed by previous experiences and misinformation from people around them. Modern dentistry has advanced a lot over the years. Today, even surgical procedures are painless and comfortable. If you have been holding back from dental intervention, more so root canal, it may be the perfect time to reach out to a root canal specialist near you for more information.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
It is a dental treatment that involves working in the root canal. This is the innermost part of the tooth. The treatment involves removing part of the tooth’s internal structure to sustain it long-term. The treatment is also known as endodontic treatment. A dentist near you will tell you that sometimes, a root canal is the best shot there is at saving a damaged tooth.
Why Would Anyone Need A Root Canal Treatment?
It is not every day that you need a root canal dentist in Cedar Knolls to work on your teeth. This is only a situation that should come around when you need a root canal treatment. Deciding whether or not a root canal in Bronxville NY is fit for you is not entirely up to you. Your dentist will check the state of your teeth, to determine the most effective procedure that would work for you. Some of the situations that merit an endodontic procedure include:
- Dental decay – the decay process of a tooth is a complex one. It occurs in stages, with the initial one being a tooth cavity. The cavity then becomes the entry point for bacteria into the tooth, which then escalates into more pronounced tooth damage. If you allow the decay process to go on for too long, you may need to have your tooth removed, following the significant damage. However, if the structure of your tooth is still salvageable, then a root canal treatment is just what you need.
- Broken tooth – a chip or crack on your tooth may not mean so much to you. Other than being a cosmetic problem, the breaking of your tooth can damage it. The type of crack or breakage can go as far as to damage the nerve endings of your tooth. The consequence of this is significant toothaches. This can be treated through endodontics.
- Hypersensitive teeth – it is when your teeth are very uncomfortable with temperature changes. This means that eating hot or cold foods becomes a problem. For some people, talking and laughing can also be uncomfortable because exposure to air outside can still cause sensitivity. Hypersensitivity is often an indicator of damaged nerves.
- Abscessed tooth – An abscess is a dangerous thing to have trapped in your tooth. It features a pus-filled pocket that is caught up in the roots of your teeth. If it is not removed, it spreads the infection throughout your tooth to the surrounding tissues in the area. It increases the risk of infection in your oral cavity.
Why Is Root Canal Treatment Important in Dentistry?
Some of the oral problems that endodontics corrects cannot be treated better with any other procedure. However, apart from that, the treatment has some major advantages, including the following:
- Saving your tooth – having your tooth removed is not entirely a cause for celebration. Losing a mature tooth means that you will have a gap in between your teeth that is unsightly. Besides, it is difficult to find a perfect replacement for your natural teeth. Root canal treatment has the core agenda of saving teeth, by increasing their lifespan for as long as possible.
- Prevents the spread of infection – an infection in one part of your mouth can quickly spread to the rest of the oral cavity. Root canal therapy is a measure to prevent spreading on infection by curbing the current one.
- Deals with oral-related pain – an infection in your mouth causes great discomfort. You can expect issues like severe toothaches swollen and tender gums, headaches, pain in ear and a lot of other forms of discomfort. Treating the infection and removing the damage alleviates all kinds of pain.
- Promotes overall oral health – when an infection is removed and the damaged part of the tooth is cleared out, you enjoy better dental health.