How Root Canal Treatment Can Save Your Tooth
Do you have a tooth that is causing pain? If so, your tooth is telling you it needs attention. If you need an expert dentist in the Whitemarsh area, come to see us at the dental office of Dr. xxx xxxx. Dr. xxxx provides the highest quality dental work, including root canals and tooth extractions, when necessary. Of course, our highest priority is to always save permanent teeth whenever possible.
Sometimes the best way to save a tooth is by performing a root canal procedure. Root canal therapy is performed for one reason: to save a tooth. It is needed when a tooth becomes infected.
On the inside of the tooth is tooth pulp. The pulp is a network of blood vessels and nerves. When infection damages the tooth pulp, pain and infection result. Tooth infection happens when bacteria enter the tooth due to injury or a crack in the tooth. If an infected tooth is left untreated the infection can even damage the bone in the mouth. After careful examination, our dentist will perform root canal therapy if it is likely that the tooth will be saved. Usually the root canal therapy is completely successful and the tooth survives. In the rare instance when root canal treatment is not possible or is unsuccessful, Dr. xxxx will need to extract the tooth to prevent further infection.
After a tooth is extracted, there are several cosmetic procedures that can be performed to replace the tooth, the most popular being a dental implant procedure.
Root canal therapy is not a very involved treatment for the patient and is performed using only a local anesthetic. The procedure involves opening the tooth and removing the infected pulp. Then the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, filled and sealed.
If a large portion of the tooth has been removed, you may need to have a porcelain crown placed over the tooth after the root canal treatment. The crown will strengthen the tooth, and the tooth will be fully returned to its original function.
The good news is the new crown will be perfectly comfortable in your mouth; in fact, you will even forget it’s there. It will never interfere with speech. You will be able to eat anything you like afterward. The great news is your tooth has been saved!
If you are interested in seeing Dr. xxxx due to tooth pain, or for a dental check-up, contact us today.