Has your dentist ever recommended root canal therapy? Many may have heard the phrase, but few know what it actually means. Getting a root canal can save your tooth’s health, and it can even save your tooth from being extracted completely. If you’re experiencing serious pain when eating or when you put pressure on an area of your smile, your tooth may be infected. Keep reading to learn how root canal therapy in Dublin helps with tooth infection and prevents more serious dental issues down the road.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is necessary to treat serious tooth decay. Sometimes, decay goes beyond your enamel’s outer layer of protection and reaches the dentin. This area of your tooth contains nerve structure called pulp. If decay has reached the pulp, your tooth can get infected in the tip of the root which causes pain and swelling. Usually, once the pain has become noticeable, patients will seek help from a dentist to relieve the pain and treat the tooth with root canal therapy.
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
Your dentist will use local anesthetic to numb the area, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. Once this is done, the infected pulp and other nerve tissue located in the tooth’s roots are removed, making the tooth ready to be filled. Your dentist will then seal off the entire root structure to prevent future infection.
Even though the roots and nerve area of the tooth is sealed off, it still remains incredibly weak from getting the infected tissue cleaned out. Because of this, your dentist will strengthen the core of your tooth and then top it with a dental crown to give your tooth the protection it needs. Root canal therapy usually takes one visit to the dentist, but it depends on how severe your infection is.
Why Are Root Canals Important?
If you choose to leave your tooth infection unaddressed, your tooth will become damaged to a point where repair is no longer an option. After that happens, your only option is to have your tooth removed and replaced with an artificial tooth. This is not only more time consuming and expensive, but you also lose your natural tooth.
If you’re experiencing a toothache or pain, talk to your dentist to see if you have an infection. Root canal therapy may not sound fun, but it’s a lot better than losing parts of your smile! Talk to your dentist in Dublin if you’ve been ignoring a toothache because it could be the difference between keeping and losing your teeth.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Eric Buck enjoys caring for his patients and providing them the treatments they need. He offers root canal therapy because he wants to save your teeth and prevent further damage! He currently practices at Distinctive Smiles of Dublin, where he can be contacted through his website or by phone at (614) 792-1800 for any questions.