Toothaches can cause you sleepless nights. As a matter of fact, an aching tooth can make your life unbearable. It induces headaches, paralyzing pain in the mouth and makes eating a problem that you cannot begin to imagine. This is mainly as a result of tooth decay, which leads to the infection of the pulp and makes it so hard for you to live comfortably. Root canal therapy has been advanced over the years to make sure that you are able to easily access fantastic dental care.
What exactly is root canal therapy?
A root canal, also known as endodontic therapy, is a sequence of treatments focused on the pulp cavity of the tooth. When the pulp cavity is infected, it causes severe tooth sensitivity and lots of pain. Endodontic therapy therefore aims at eliminating the infection plus protecting the decontaminated tooth from any future invasion by micro organisms.
Simply put, this treatment is focused on the inside of the tooth. It is a necessary form of treatment for a pulp that has become infected or inflamed. The causes of the infection or inflammation vary tremendously. In most cases, it is deep decay of the tooth, but in others, it could be a faulty crown, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack in the tooth. On top of that, any kind of trauma to a tooth can cause damage to the pulp even if the tooth does not have any visible cracks or chips. When left untreated, the infection causes a lot of pain.
How does root canal therapy help?
During the root canal treatment, the infected or inflamed pulp is carefully removed and the interior of the tooth is cleaned. It is then disinfected to prevent any further damage by infection. Once the cleaning and disinfection is complete, the tooth is filled and sealed up using a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha. The final step is to restore the tooth with a crown or filling that offers protection.
This procedure is very important to make sure that the teeth function like any other teeth. Therefore, the benefits of a root canal therapy are just so many including:
- Restoring normal biting force and sensation
- Chewing remains efficient
- Protecting the other teeth from excessive straining or wear
- Maintaining the natural appearance of the tooth
How long does the procedure take?
A root canal is a rather simple procedure when carried out by an experienced professional. Depending on the condition of your tooth and personal circumstances, it can be completed in one or two appointments. This is contrary to popular thought regarding this procedure. Once the procedure is done, the tooth can last for as long as the other natural teeth.
Source by William Jam Smith
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.