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Thanks to advances in dentistry, there’s no need to dread root canal treatment. When a tooth becomes significantly infected, your provider may recommend a root canal to save your tooth.
In the past, the term root canal conjured up images of misery and discomfort. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case.
Our team at Brooklyn City Dental wants patients to feel comfortable about root canal treatment. Good dental care is paramount to keeping your oral health in tip-top shape.
Root canal therapy plays an important role in saving a tooth that’s been severely damaged by bacterial infection. Learn more about root canal therapy and why there's no need to fret about this tooth-saving procedure.
Your mouth is home to over 6 billion bacteria. Some bacteria are health-promoting, while others can damage your teeth. Tooth decay can happen when bacteria in your mouth produce acids that damage the surface of your tooth.
Damage to the enamel can lead to a small hole called a cavity, and if not treated right away, the infection can progress, and the cavity can grow larger. Without intervention, significant tooth decay can result in tooth loss.
A root canal is designed to eliminate bacteria from an infected tooth, reduce the risk of reinfection, and save your natural tooth.
Not only does a root canal save your natural tooth, but it also alleviates pain associated with a dental infection. There's no need to worry about having root canal therapy. Each year dental professionals perform millions of root canal treatments and save many happy smiles.
During root canal therapy, your dentist removes the soft tissue (pulp) inside your tooth. The pulp is dense with blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. The affected tooth can survive without the pulp and will continue to receive nourishment from surrounding tissue.
Modern root canal treatments are nothing like ones of the past. Today, root canal treatment is relatively painless and very effective at saving teeth. We perform routine root canal treatments that are typically completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth.
To begin the root canal process, your dentist cleans your teeth and gums, checks the health of your jawbone, and evaluates the extent of the damage to the affected tooth.
The next step is to remove the infected pulp. This is done by opening the top of the tooth to expose the infected pulp. We then use special dental tools to carefully and attentively remove the infected pulp from the canals of the tooth.
The area is treated with an antibiotic cream to remove any remaining infection and prevent reinfection from occurring. The tooth is then filled with a biocompatible material and sealed.
There’s no downtime required after root canal treatment. You can return to your normal daily activities as soon as you leave the office.
It's perfectly normal to experience some soreness, swelling, and minor bleeding of the gums after root canal therapy. Any discomfort is managed with over-the-counter or prescription pain medication. Once your permanent crown is placed over the tooth, you can expect the restoration to last for many years to come.
You can avoid the need for root canals in the future with good dental hygiene and preventive care, including routine visits for check-ups. Twice yearly visits give us the opportunity to spot potential issues before they become larger problems. Small cavities can be treated before they grow large enough to require root canal treatment.
You’re in capable, compassionate hands when you visit us at Brooklyn City Dental. For check-ups and all other dental services, give us a call to schedule an appointment.
