A root canal is just one of the many treatments that dentists perform. For this, the dental professional must have training as an endodontist. Otherwise, you would need to see an actual endodontist. Either way, this process entails removing the pulp from inside a severely damaged or diseased tooth. After cleaning and disinfecting the area, the dentist reshapes the canal. As the final step, the patient has a crown placed over the tooth.
There are several reasons for having this procedure done. First, most patients experience significant pain when a tooth becomes injured or diseased. A root canal provides them much-needed relief. Also, this treatment preserves the patient’s permanent tooth. As a result, people have no problem with speech or eating, both issues that can arise when missing a tooth.
Yes, a root canal treatment is extremely common. Even so, most dentists perform this procedure as a last-ditch effort to salvage the patient’s tooth. A dentist will educate their patients about preventative care and advise them to seek attention as soon as any kind of problem arises. For instance, if someone has a cavity that develops, it is essential to have it filled immediately. As a result, the decaying process stops.
If a simple cavity goes untreated, it can grow, causing the entire tooth to decay. Once that happens, both the roots and nerves on the interior of the tooth become affected. At that point, the only option of saving the permanent tooth is with a root canal treatment. If not done, the tooth will eventually fall out on its own or the dentist will need to pull it.
As far as the commonality of a root canal, millions of men, women and children have this done every year in the U.S. alone. Of those, the majority have complete success. That means once the dentist places a crown on the newly treated tooth, the patient does not require any further treatment. People can go on with life before the initial problem started.
Due to myths about root canals, some people avoid going to the dentist when first experiencing an issue. That only makes the situation worse. For instance, one myth is that having this procedure done creates intense pain. The truth is that any pain the patient feels is the result of an infection in the tooth. With a root canal, the patient goes under local or general anesthesia, which means feeling nothing. Even with the treatment done, most only have slight discomfort for a few days.
Another myth is that it makes more sense to have a damaged or diseased tooth extracted than a root canal. As mentioned, dentists want to do everything possible to save a permanent tooth. For that reason, extraction is not typically required unless absolutely necessary. Considering the success rate of root canals, this is the right option for most patients.
If you begin to have pain in one of your teeth, even slight pain, schedule an appointment with your dentist. That way, they can identify the problem and fix it quickly. If you do need a root canal, there is nothing to worry about. Your dentist or an endodontist will take good care of you.
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