A restorative dentist might perform a root canal to save a tooth with a damaged pulp chamber. It is a beneficial treatment that can have therapeutic benefits. A tooth’s pulp chamber is the innermost layer that contains its nerve and blood vessels. It is sealed off from the rest of a tooth so bacteria and acids cannot reach it.
A tooth’s pulp chamber can be opened up by trauma to the tooth or decay. This leaves the soft tissues there exposed to bacteria and acids in the mouth. The acids can cause excruciating toothaches, while bacteria in the mouth can infect the tissues in the pulp chamber. The infection can then spread to other parts of the body, like the brain, and have life-threatening consequences.
Common dental issues that a restorative dentist might recommend root canal therapy for include:
Root canals have an unfair reputation as a dental treatment, but it is typically a painless affair. A local anesthetic can be administered at the start of the treatment.
It is a straightforward procedure that involves using a dental drill to make a hole into a tooth’s pulp chamber. Dental tools are used to extract these soft tissues from teeth, and medication might be applied to the area.
Once the tooth has been cleaned and medicated, it is sealed back up with a material known as gutta-percha. The tooth can then be rebuilt with a composite resin or covered up with a crown. Crowns are typically recommended for teeth at the back of the mouth because they handle the most significant bite forces.
It takes about an hour to restore a tooth with a root canal, and the procedure has a high success rate. It is often enough to fully treat an infected tooth unless the infection has reached the tooth’s roots. At that point, an extraction might be needed to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body, where it can have life-threatening consequences.
Most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort afterward. If they do, it can be managed with over-the-counter medication. Root canals often bring an end to any pain that the patient was experiencing leading up to their dental visit.
A root canal allows a dentist to save a severely damaged tooth, so it does not have to be replaced with an oral prosthetic. There is no recovery period, so you can get back to your daily routine once the treatment is over. Give us a call or stop by our Austin clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist if you have a decayed or damaged tooth.
Request an appointment here: https://austinprimarydental.com or call Austin Primary Dental at (512) 808-5651 for an appointment in our Austin office.
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