THE BENEFITS OF ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

In recent times, dentists have found different ways to protect our oral health from diseases and infections. Root canal treatments are one of the beneficial dental treatments ever known. Although people still question its usefulness and advantage. However, many people who have gotten root canal therapy have benefitted a lot from it. And those who are yet to get a root canal can still ask their dentists about it.
Root canal therapy or endodontic treatment is an oral surgery that involves drilling into the tooth roots to clean and get rid of infected tooth tissues inside the tooth’s root to avoid tooth loss. Dental surgery? Yes, a root canal procedure is an oral surgery that can be performed by an endodontist or a general dentist sometimes. An endodontist is specialized in treating the internal dental structure. The general dentist could have some knowledge about it but in complicated cases, the endodontist is called upon.

Why Root Canal Treatment?

The first thing about root canal treatment is its uniqueness when it comes to preserving your natural tooth. People who suffer from infected tooth’ roots might have been recommended root canal treatment or tooth extraction ( the total removal of a damaged or infected tooth from its roots). However, tooth extractions won’t save your natural tooth. Although tooth extraction would also end the toothache and tooth infection. If you are one of those who would want to preserve their natural tooth then root canal therapy is for you.
Naturally, we have an enamel (the outer surface of a tooth) that protects the internal tooth structure. Below the enamel lies the slightly yellowish dentin. Underneath the dentin is the cementum and then finally the dental pulp which is in the center of the tooth’ root. The dental pulp is the most delicate part of the teeth structure. It connects the tooth tissues and allows the tooth to perform its major duties. When the dental pulp becomes infected, the tooth becomes oversensitive to hot or cold substances thereby causing an extreme toothache. If the infected dental pulp is not taken care of, the infection can cause tooth loss and other dental issues. In such a case, you can either remove the tooth or get rid of the tooth decay but preserve your tooth as well. Which would you prefer?

Also, root canal therapy saves you from spending too much money on other restorative dental treatments. This is because when the infected tissues are taken out, the area becomes sealed and protected with a dental cap. With good oral hygiene, you might not need to see the dentist for another root canal treatment again.

How Is Root Canal Treatment Performed?

Before getting a root canal treatment, you have to make an appointment with a dentist first. You can see a dentist in Vernon, BC for your root canal treatment. As soon as your dental appointment has been confirmed, you would be asked to see the dentist immediately especially if you are experiencing a toothache due to tooth decay. As part of the root canal process, the dentist would ask for your medical history records to enable better and safe root canal treatment. Also, without the right medical treatment, the dentist won’t be able to confirm if root canal treatment is suitable for you. Some patients might not be able to get root canal treatment due to some underlying medical conditions. However, do not be bothered by that cause your dentist can help you with alternative dental procedures that would give you the relief you desire. Before the procedure, the dentist would examine your tooth to see how deeply infected your tooth is. However, the infection can only be gotten rid of through oral surgery. The dentist starts by administering local or general anesthesia to numb the area that is being operated on. This would prevent you from feeling pains during the procedure. The dentist would then drill into the tooth to enable easy removal of the infected tissues. After cleaning the tooth’ roots thoroughly, the dentist would disinfect the area with disinfectants that also contain fluoride. The dentist would make sure that all the infected tissues have been taken care of and then the area would be filled. After filling the area, the dentist would seal the tooth to prevent further damages or infections. Most dentists would suggest that a dental cap or dental sealants be placed on the tooth to support the tooth and prevent decay. After the treatment, the healing process won’t take more than a week. However, if after one week you continue to feel toothache or discomfort after the treatment, you should see an emergency dentist. It could be that the infected tissues were not successfully removed or it could be caused by other factors.