Most people will freak out when their dentists suggest a root canal treatment, just the thought of a dentist making an incision on your gums sounds scary. Fortunately, with modern techniques, you are likely to have a different experience. The treatment prompts your dentist to remove the infected pulp before carefully cleaning and disinfecting your tooth. The expert then fills and seals your tooth with gutta-percha (rubber-like material) before restoring it with a filling or crown for protection. The team of dental experts at East Village Dental Center performs various dental procedures including root canals in East Village. The experts will guide you through the process and help you restore your chewing abilities.

What Are the Benefits of Contacting Your Doctor for a Root Canal?

There are various clinical and practical reasons why you would opt for root canal treatment. Apart from saving your natural tooth and giving you the ability to continue enjoying the foods you like, the procedure will limit your dentist’s ongoing visits for dental work. Root canal benefits include:

• Protecting your jawbone from infection. Major health issues you deal with originate from dental problems. Fortunately, your dentist treats the condition during root canal treatment and prevents it from spreading to your jawbone.
• Aesthetic purposes. When bacteria build up in your tooth’s pulp, it affects the tooth. Chances are high your tooth might turn brown, black, or yellow. Unfortunately, the discoloration might fail to respond to treatments like tooth whitening. The good news is, your dentist can help restore your shine by covering the flaw with a crown that looks and functions like your natural teeth.
• You do not need follow-up appointments. Unlike tooth extractions, which might force you to go for appointments to receive a bridge, dentures, or implants, which is likely to increase the treatment cost and commitment. A tooth canal is a one-time procedure unless a complication arises.
• Protect your neighboring teeth. Treating your infected pulp means that the infection will not spread to the tooth’s adjacent teeth, thus, saving your other teeth from extraction.

How Will You Know You Need a Root Canal?

When your pulp becomes inflamed, it will be hard for you to use your tooth like before.  Your crown may be intact, but the pulp is infected. Common factors that damage your pulp include:

• Deep decay resulting from an untreated cavity.
• Various dental procedures on one tooth.
• A crack or chip in your tooth.
• Tooth injury.

What Should You Expect During the Procedure?

Before the procedure, your dentist will numb your gum near the treatment area, then inject local anesthesia into your gum above the infected tooth to prevent you from feeling pain. After numbing your gum, the specialist will make a tiny incision to expose the infected pulp. He will then use files to remove and coat the space with an antibiotic to rid your teeth of the infection and prevent re-infection.

Now that your tooth is clean, your dentist will both fill and seal it with a sealer paste and gutta-percha to prevent your saliva from damaging the canals.

Tooth extraction is always the first thing you will think of when you cannot stand a toothache’s excruciating pain. However, when you discuss your options and your doctor recommends a root canal, his goal is to preserve your natural tooth. Schedule an appointment with the experts to explore your root canal options today.  

Joyce Laroche