Hello everyone! I've been hearing a question or concern from my patients at Tower Dental wondering why an endodontic treatment or a root canal needs to be performed with all of the latest advancements in restorative procedures. It's a very good question, but before I get to answering that, I feel it's necessary to break down why an endodontic procedure needs to be performed and lastly why most dentists including myself, prefer this procedure over a complex and expensive replacement implant.
Firs thing you should know, endodontics has a broad spectrum of functions. One of the most common reasons for a root canal is when the tooth has a severe bacteria infection that is spreading. Some recognizable symptoms of this include tender gum tissues, sensitivity to hot and cold food or drink, unexplained pain in the nearby lymph nodes, as well as tooth discoloration. The purpose of the root canal is to get into the infected part of the tooth and ultimately clean out all of the infected material while maintaining as much of the natural tooth as possible.
The same is true for when someone gets hit in the mouth and a tooth becomes dislodged or is knocked out completely. Most of the time the tooth can be reinserted and saved, but because of the tooth's exposure to outside air and materials, it can pick up a lot of bacteria in the process. Once the tooth is firmly back in place, a root canal is performed to ensure that an infection doesn't begin and cause greater problems down the road. This is also true if the you severely crack or chip a tooth. When a tooth is damaged, it can create a new surface that bacteria loves to attach itself to and start working its way into the root of the tooth and the adjacent tissues. A root canal cleans out any risk of bacterial infection and preserves the natural tooth.
I know I've said that a lot: “preserves the natural tooth.” What does that mean exactly? Well quite simply it means that most dentists and myself included, want to maintain as much of the natural tooth structure as we possibly can. This isn't just for aesthetics. When an implant or bridge replacement is performed, it can be quite expensive, time consuming, and painful for the patient. Implants require surgery, and bridges actually require the dentist to damage adjacent teeth in order to create the new tooth. The damage to the adjacent teeth actually runs the risk of creating more cavities as well as an increased risk for root canals!
No one likes getting a root canal. It's not fun, and it requires multiple visits to the dentist's office to complete. However, it's better than letting the infection progress and create more problems. It is also far easier and simpler to perform a root canal than getting an implant or other restorative procedure. So if you're ever experiencing overly sensitive teeth, or if you have a lot of pain in and around your mouth, don't hesitate to schedule an appointment! Our number at TowerDental is 303-368-0555 or you can schedule an appointment on line through our website http://www.towerdentalcolorado.com
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