With today’s modern technology, your dentist can give you a healthier smile that can last a lifetime. Your team will create a customized treatment plan in order to provide you with the smile you always wanted. It is a top priority to relieve any worries that you might have related to your endodontic procedure. Your dentist will ensure that you feel as comfortable as possible.
Endodontic therapy is fundamental when the soft tissue inside the root canal becomes inflamed or infected. Advances in endodontic treatment have improved our success at preserving and maintaining healthy teeth.
Procedures
Symptoms of needing an endodontic procedure include severe pain while chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, swollen, tender or discolored gums. In addition, the following are some common reasons for needing root canal treatment:
Pain: The most common symptom of needing a root canal is a toothache. If the tooth is still alive, you may experience extreme sensitivity to heat or cold. The tooth may hurt spontaneously and can progress to a very severe headache. If the tooth is dead, you may feel pain when pressure is put on the tooth. Swelling and bleeding may also occur.
Abscess: An abscess forms when bacteria enter the pulp and a pus pocket forms around the end of the root. If left untreated, the abscess will continue to grow and infect the bone around the root of the tooth.
Deep Decay: Tooth decay can extend deep into the tooth and can reach the pulp, infecting it with bacteria. The tooth may become inflamed and painful, and can eventually die.
Trauma: If a tooth is hit hard, the nerve can be severed at the end of the root and eventually die.
Fracture: A fractured tooth can extend and reach the pulp. A root canal may need to be performed so a post can be placed down the canal of the tooth to help retain the restoration.
Repeated Dental Procedures: Dental procedures can produce significant stress on a tooth and repeated drilling may cause the pulp of a tooth to become inflamed.
In the past, whenever one of these situations occurred, the only solution was to have the infected tooth extracted. Root canal treatment is a beneficial option that allows a patient to save his or her natural tooth, even after decay, infection, or trauma.
