WHAT IS ROOT CANAL THERAPY?
It is a common dental procedure performed when tooth decay has reached the pulp of the tooth, which is the central area of the tooth that contains the nerve tissue and blood vessels. Root canal therapy or root canal treatment is intended to result in the elimination of the existing infection and the protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion.
When the pulp becomes irritated or infected by bacteria from deep cavities, lingering discomfort to hot and/or cold and severe pain are experienced. If left unattended, an abscess at the root level will form, which may expand in size eating away the surrounding bone in the process. The abscess can also lead to swelling of the face and neck. By performing a root canal treatment, your dentist in Lake Worth will remove the infected pulp and will disinfect, clean and shape the inside of the tooth and the tooth’s roots; thus, alleviating any pain or discomfort you may have.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A ROOT CANAL PROBLEM?
The typical symptoms are: extreme tooth pain, prolonged sensitivity to hot and/or cold temperatures after exposure, swollen and tender gums, tooth discoloration, and a recurring pimple with pus that forms in the nearby gum area. You may also have trouble sleeping due to the pain even after you’ve taken a painkiller and allowed it enough time to take effect. During a consultation, your caring dentist near you in Lake Worth will be able to determine, through a series of tests, if you in fact need a root canal.
WHY DO I NEED IT?
In cases where your dentist determines your tooth is salvageable, root canal treatment is needed in order to save it so you don’t end up having the tooth extracted. The main goal of root canal therapy is to relieve any tooth pain or sensitivity and to prevent or get rid of any abscess formation at the base of the tooth’s roots. It is important to know that in order to keep the affected tooth safe and healthy, all other structures affected by the cavity that started the whole process must be cleaned. This leaves the tooth weak since a lot of the natural tooth structure usually has to be removed.
Therefore, once the root canal treatment is performed, the tooth must get a resin bonding or a crown (depending on the situation) in order to protect and maintain its integrity. Front teeth can sometimes just get a resin bonding, while back teeth usually need a crown in order to protect them from fracturing. Your Lake Worth dentist can inform you more about what is needed for your unique situation.
WHAT DOES A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT CONSIST OF?
The first thing your dentist here at Prestige Dental will do is to examine and to take x-rays of the tooth. The dentist then will administer local anesthetic in the area to wait for the affected tooth to get numb, a small protective sheet called a “dental dam” will be placed over the area to isolate the tooth in order to keep it clean and free of saliva during the procedure.
Our dentist near you at PDC will then make a small access hole in the crown of the tooth in order to reach its pulp. The pulp chamber tissue is then removed. Once straight access to the canal or canals is achieved, small files are used to clean root canals and to shape them for filling with a rubber-like material called Gutta Percha.
The root canals are filled with gutta percha, which is properly coated with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the canals. Finally, depending on your dentist’s assessment, the access opening could be sealed right away with a permanent filling or the dentist may decide to wait a few days in order to allow for the infection to completely heal before permanently sealing the access. In this type of case, your caring dentist will place a medication and a temporary filling until the tooth is ready to be permanently restored. Whenever a temporary filling is placed, it will be later removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored with a permanent restoration. As mentioned above, a crown is usually needed to protect root canal treated teeth from fracturing/breaking and needing to be removed from the mouth.
CAN I CHOOSE TO HAVE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT DONE WITHOUT FULLY COVERING THE TOOTH WITH A CROWN?
In most of the cases, it is recommended to fully protect the tooth once root canal therapy is done. When root canal treatment is performed, the tooth loses its pulpal tissue; this, in addition to the damaged dentin and enamel, make the tooth more prone to breaking when eating. A crown is recommended in order to protect the affected tooth from any forces when eating. Crowns are also needed to protect the tooth from getting reinfected after the root canal treatment is performed. Please do not hesitate in asking your trustworthy Lake Worth dentist if you have any further concerns.
If you think you may need root canal treatment with a caring dentist near you, call us today at (561) 965-3933 or click below for a consultation.