ROOT CANAL THERAPY BY AZURE DENTAL
When you mention root canal therapy to most people, they can’t help but cringe!
Root canal therapy may be one of the most misunderstood and maligned procedures in general dentistry. In reality, however, a root canal can save a tooth that would otherwise be lost and prevents a host of problems associated with missing teeth.
WHY ARE ROOT CANALS NECESSARY?
- When the surface of the tooth begins to break down due to acids accumulating in fissures, grooves, or places where food can get trapped, decay begins to form. In its earliest stages, the damage may not be visible and will not be felt at all.
- As the decay progresses, it eats through the enamel and attacks the second layer of the tooth, the dentin. This substance is softer than the hard surface enamel so decay spreads faster.
- Now the tooth may become somewhat sensitive to temperature changes. Hot or cold foods and beverages may cause discomfort.
- Left untreated, the decay attacks the heart of the tooth. This is the pulp, where the nerves are. When the pulp is involved, severe discomfort is common. As the tooth becomes further infected, an abscess will form at the tip of the root causing swelling.
ROOT CANALS ARE NOT PAINFUL – INFECTED TEETH ARE PAINFUL!
Once the pulp is attacked and infection sets in, the tooth begins to die. Acids produced by the abscess begin to dissolve the bone surrounding the tooth. This is the point at which many people ask that the tooth be pulled because the discomfort is so unbearable.
Pulling an infected tooth is not always the answer, though. Root canal therapy can save the tooth and prevent the problems that a missing tooth generates.
Root canal therapy involves cleaning out the chamber (or root canal) that holds the nerves of the tooth. This chamber is cleaned out thoroughly along with the tip of the root to ensure that all decay and bacteria is removed. A sterile filling specific for root canals is placed in the chamber. It is then sealed off, and the remainder of the tooth is filled with regular filling material.
A crown is often recommended depending on the size of the filling and the damage left by decay.
It is always best to save your natural teeth whenever possible. At Azure Dental, we promote your optimum oral health so that your whole body can be healthy. We are in business to ensure that healthy smiles continue throughout your lifetime.
