You may need root canal treatment if one of your teeth is severely decayed, or there is an abscess in the area. This procedure may seem intimidating, but it can offer relief from discomfort and avoid needing a tooth extraction. Your Plaza Family Dentistry in Kansas City, MO, is here to explain what to expect if you need this restoration.
If You Have An Aching Tooth
Tooth pain or sensitivity to the area is a common telltale sign that you have a cavity. When this happens suddenly and lasts persistently, it may mean that the decay is more severe or has become infected. At this point, a regular dental filling may not be able to treat the area. If the decay has reached the pulp of the tooth, a root canal treatment may be needed instead. The pulp is in a deeper layer of your dental structure, below the enamel and dentin. This layer consists of nerves and blood vessels, which are vital to the health of your tooth.
Removing The Damaged Pulp
Endodontics is a field in dentistry that focuses on dental pulp. The most common procedure done to repair this is a root canal. This treatment often has a negative connotation of being painful. However, this is because of the discomfort that occurs when you have a severe cavity. The treatment itself may bring you some relief because the source of the problem will be completely removed. Before the treatment, your dentist may examine the area and take X-rays to get a closer look at the tooth being worked on. Then, you will be sedated for your comfort. The dentist will use special tools to open up the bone, remove the pulp, and clean the area. Lastly, a filling will be added, and a crown may be placed on top. The crown helps give extra support to the area, as much of your tooth’s structure must be removed.
Avoiding The Need For A Root Canal
One of the best ways to avoid needing extensive dental work in the future is to practice good prevention. Restorations are often needed to repair your smile after cavities. To reduce the chances of developing a cavity, make sure to take good care of your smile at home by brushing and flossing twice a day. If you do develop a cavity, your dentist will recommend that it be treated with a filling. It is important that you have this done as soon as possible so that the decay does not worsen.
Do not Put Off A Restoration
To book a root canal, or other restorative dental treatment, Call Plaza Family Dentistry in Kansas City, MO, at (816) 531-8000 to schedule an urgent appointment.
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