If you have a severely infected tooth, your dentist might suggest a root canal to save and restore it. Despite its reputation, root canal therapy is nearly painless. It’s crucial not to delay this treatment because an untreated infection can harm your oral health. Continue reading to learn more about root canals and why getting timely help is essential for your overall oral well-being.
How Does the Root Canal Procedure Work?
To start, your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth, ensuring you feel no pain during the procedure. Then, they’ll carefully remove the infected tooth pulp to relieve any discomfort and stop the infection from spreading.
After cleaning the inside of the tooth, they’ll fill it with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material. Finally, to seal the tooth, prevent future infections, and restore its appearance and function, your dentist will place a dental crown or filling.
Why It’s a Bad Idea to Wait to Get a Root Canal
Neglecting treatment for an infected tooth can allow the infection to spread, posing risks to other parts of the body such as the heart, brain, or lungs. This could lead to serious health complications, including heart inflammation, brain abscesses, or pneumonia. Eventually, if the tooth can’t be saved, extraction becomes inevitable, adding to the treatment expenses, especially if a replacement tooth is needed.
3 Benefits of Root Canals
Choosing a root canal not only prevents complications elsewhere in the mouth and body but also provides numerous advantages, including:
- No extraction required: Root canal therapy avoids the need to extract the infected tooth, preventing dental shifting and jawbone deterioration. This helps maintain your natural teeth and saves time and money required for replacing missing teeth.
- Pain-free smile: Root canals alleviate the pain caused by the infection by removing the infected pulp containing nerves, resulting in a pain-free and comfortable smile.
- Long-term solution: When done correctly, a root canal can offer a long-term solution, potentially lasting a lifetime. This allows you to maintain a full smile and preserve your natural bite.
Despite the common perception that root canals are intimidating, there’s no need to fear. Contrary to popular belief, this procedure is no more daunting than having a large cavity filled. In fact, a root canal works to save your smile from further damage and promotes overall and oral health!
About the PracticeAt York Smile Care, our dedicated team of four experienced dentists is committed to providing exceptional care, especially when it comes to addressing severely infected teeth. We understand the discomfort that tooth sensitivity and pain can cause, which is why we’re here to help. Whether you’re experiencing these symptoms or you need to schedule an appointment for root canal therapy, you can rely on our expertise and compassionate approach. To get started, contact the York Smile Care team at (717) 741-0893 or visit our website.