Nothing makes the average person cringe as much as the thought of a root canal except the tooth decay. Tooth decay is one of the number one reasons for a child to prematurely lose a baby tooth, and the number one reason adults lose their permanent teeth. However, if decay is caught in time, a root canal can save a tooth and its integrity. If you are concerned about any root canals valparaiso in, contact your dentist to learn more.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay can cause more problems than just a small cavity. It can cause serious damage to the interior structure of the tooth. The infection caused by decay can cause significant damage to the pulp and the root canals. These root canals are the primary pathways from the tooth to the bone, which can lead to damaging the bone and its density. Over time, this damage can separate the tooth from the bone and the dentist will be left with no choice but to extract it. Performing a root canal before the damage becomes severe enough to damage the bone may be the only way your dentist can save the tooth and prevent it from becoming reinfected.
Having a Root Canal
A root canal is a treatment procedure that is able to remove the infection from inside of the tooth. It can also help preserve the undamaged part of the tooth by preventing further infection. It is commonly thought that a root canal is a painful procedure. This used to be true. However, with modern anesthetic medications and approaches, your dentist can deaden the area during the procedure instead of just numbing it. The root canal procedure itself removes infected nerves, which stops any pain caused by the infection. This means that your tooth can be saved, and your experience during and after the procedure are not traumatic.
Who Does A Root Canal?
A root canal is primarily performed by a general dentist. This means the procedure can be completed inside your regular dentist office by a dentist that you already trust and have a good relationship with. If you prefer, the procedure can be performed by an endodontist, which is a dentist that specializes in the anatomy of the root canal and generally has more advanced equipment. It doesn’t matter whether the procedure is done by a general dentist or an endodontist, the basic principles of the procedure are the same. The goal is to remove all of the diseased tissue inside the tooth and seal it completely from outside threats that could cause reinfection.
To reach the affected tissue, a drill is used to create an access hole. This access hole is typically placed on the biting surface of the tooth so it is easy to fill. Specialized tools are then used to remove the diseased tissue from the tooth and an antibacterial solution is then used to flush out the tooth to ensure that there is no risk of reinfection. The hole is then closed with a filling material to ensure that the space is air tight and the root and bone is not at risk for becoming damaged.