Root Canal Treatment Can Save A Natural Tooth
Root canal therapy allows patients in Calgary, Alberta, to save their natural teeth. When problems arise, such as an infection, patients may be at risk of needing a tooth removed. Luckily, root canal treatment at Calgary Dental Centers can be used to maintain the tooth and eliminate the need for removal.
Root canal treatment explained
When patients think of root canal therapy, they often associate it with pain. However, this is not the case. The procedure is done without discomfort since our team of professionals will use local anesthetics for optimum patient comfort. It is often the pain of an infected tooth that brings patients to see the dentist for an evaluation, only to find out that root canal therapy can relieve them of their concerns.
Why might a patient need root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy may be used in the following situations:
- A patient has let an area of decay go untreated for an extended period, and it has reached the dental pulp
- The dental pulp has become infected or inflamed
- A tooth has had an extensive injury that has affected the dental pulp inside of the tooth
When patients require root canal therapy, they may have questions about how the procedure is performed.
First, patients are anesthetized for optimum comfort. We don’t want our patients to have any discomfort while in our care. Once patients are comfortable, we begin the process. The dentist drills a small hole into the tooth with an instrument to reach the dental pulp. The dental pulp is a mass of tissue within the center of the tooth that houses soft tissues, nerves, and the blood supply. Removing it can eliminate pain.
Using extremely small instruments and tools, the dentist removes the dental pulp from the inside of the tooth and then treats the canals to ensure they are disinfected and all bacteria and infections are eliminated. Once this has been done, he fills the canals with gutta-percha and then seals off the tooth with composite resin. This alone may leave the tooth at risk for breakage due to the weakening effects of root canal therapy, so patients may be scheduled for another appointment to place a dental crown over this tooth. A crown can offer an extra layer of protection for the natural tooth and keep it from experiencing breakage. This is often the final part of the root canal process.
What are the effects of root canal treatment?
The benefit of root canal treatment is the ability to restore the natural tooth to avoid its removal. Removing a tooth should be a last resort, as it can affect the health of the bone underneath. It can also cause patients to experience extra expenses, including the cost of replacing the tooth with a denture or bridge.
Who is a candidate for root canal therapy?
Any patient with a tooth that has an infected or damaged dental pulp may want to discuss the possibility of having treatment performed to avoid tooth replacement.
What other alternatives are available for root canal therapy?
Unfortunately, if a condition reaches the point where root canal therapy is suggested, it is past the point of any other type of repair. Without root canal therapy, the dentist will have to remove the tooth, and patients will need to consider replacement options to maintain their smile’s health, function, and appearance.
Discuss the possibility of root canal treatment to save your tooth
Saving a natural tooth from removal is a smart move, and that can only be achieved with root canal therapy. We encourage patients to take the time to speak to our team of professionals.
We encourage patients in the Calgary area to call us at (403) 768-1339 to schedule a visit to our office. We welcome new patients into our facility for comprehensive dental solutions for children and adults.
