Endodontists Dentists Are Experts in Root Canals and Endodontic Treatment

People tend to go nervous when it comes to a root canal. The entire thing is expensive just to save a tooth, and there’s pain that you need to deal with as well. However, how many people out there really know the processes involved in a root canal? You can learn more about this treatment on this page here.

This therapy, also known as endodontic treatment, is removing infection in an affected tooth. This will protect the teeth from experiencing other future infections. The process is done in the pulp, and this is the root canal.

What is this Treatment?

A root canal is a part of the tooth and not necessarily treatment. It’s precisely the hollow section that has the nerve tissues, blood vessels, and other cellular materials that are termed as the tooth’s pulp. Some people may associate root canals with a horrible and unpleasant experience, which can be painful. 

However, despite the bad rep, these treatments are becoming regular, and they are more frequent than fillings. If you’re one of the hundreds of people who want to save your teeth and don’t want to do the extractions, you can always rest easy as the root canal dentist specializing in endodontics will give you a more comfortable treatment than you need. The goal of the therapy is the removal of infection and preventing future ones from developing.

Why Do You Need a Root Canal?

A single tooth has three layers:

• The pulp is the softcore at the tissue.
• The dentist is the hard layer.
• The enamel is the hard and white surface at the top. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels that are important for tooth growth and development.

However, once the tooth matures, this pulp is not needed any longer. When an individual does not go to a dentist regularly for cleanings or has poor oral hygiene, the pulp becomes infected with bacteria. Sometimes, the infection is because of tooth cracks or decay.

When the infection grows, it will become an abscess and is very painful for most individuals. You can read more articles about an abscess and its symptoms here: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/abscess.  To save the tooth from extraction, a root canal may be recommended and performed by an endodontist.

What Happens During the Procedure?

The first step is to apply topical anesthetic to the gums. When they begin to work, local anesthesia is injected so you can remain awake during the treatment without feeling any painful sensations. The expert endodontist will then create an opening on top of the tooth. This is to remove the infected pulp, and then everything will proceed into the cleaning of the canal. 

After careful clean-up, the space of the canal is filled with a rubber-like and safe material to prevent infection in the future. The endodontist will then seal the canal, and he will place a crown on the tooth so it will be looking good. The tooth will then be saved from extraction and will work just like any others.

With the anesthesia’s help, the root canals are often performed faster and with little pain to the patient. Many dentists will ask the patients to raise their hands if they feel any pain, and if they do, they will add more local anesthetic. Generally, the procedure is comfortable, but they may feel some sensitivities afterwards. This sensitivity may last for days, but it can be relieved with over-the-counter medications.

What Happens Afterwards?

The treated tooth will function just like the others, and you won’t feel any pain when chewing or biting. It’s better if you should not use the tooth in chewing when it does not have a crown yet. Patients can return to their everyday lives and daily routine after the treatment. Another thing is that if the endodontist has successfully treated the infection, the root canal can last for a lifetime. 

Just in any other kind of surgery, know that the entire process can cause some discomfort. After it’s done, it can spare you from feeling pain, getting decays, and abscesses. You won’t need bridges, implants, or dentures because you won’t lose your natural tooth as well.

Benefits of the Procedure

The discomfort is less than what you expect when you have an extraction. Thanks to the anesthesia and modern techniques, patients who have had root canals are seven times more likely to say that it’s painless than an actual extraction.

When you undergo any endodontic treatment, the infected or inflamed pulp is essentially removed. The canal will be disinfected, cleaned, and filled with gutta-percha. After this, a restoration will be done in the form of a filling or crown for better protection. Get more info about crowns on this page.

There are many reasons you should aim to save your natural tooth, which includes continuing to eat the food you love, maintaining your genuine smile, and limiting a lot of dental work in the future. Other reasons why you should undergo an endodontic treatment include

A Virtually Pain-Free Treatment

The treatment will leave you with lesser discomfort as long as you continue to take the prescribed painkillers afterwards. The anesthesia will effectively numb all the other areas of your tooth and gums, and you won’t feel anything at all.

A More Cost-Effective and Efficient Alternative

The extractions don’t necessarily need another appointment. There may be times when the dentists will ask you to visit for a follow-up, but they will just inspect the area. There’s no need for implants and bridges and other trips. The costs of the extraction can be higher. Another advantage is that many of the insurance companies usually cover root canal treatments and any other related endodontic procedure so that it will be less expensive for you. 

Other Facts to Consider

When the tooth has undergone a root canal procedure, know that it can become brittle and dry. It will easily break without a cap or a crown. This is why it’s essential to restore the crown properly. The costs will depend on the severity of the case and the dental fees. The crowns may have different prices as well.

Although you may feel that a root canal can be a considerable expense, the only alternative you have is tooth extraction. Removing a tooth may mean that an implant, bridge, or denture is needed to fill the gaps because the others will shift around and become crooked. These root canal treatments have very high success rates, and there are always chances of new infections, so it’s better to cure everything once and for all. With this said, get in touch with the nearest endodontist clinic in your area and know more about their services.