The fact that you need root canal treatment is one thing, but understanding that need and the importance of the treatment is something else entirely. To many people, tooth decay is most widely recognized as the source of cavities. This connection can make them believe that their tooth decay can be treated with a filling, even if it is a little more severe. However, the point of root canal treatment is to restore a tooth that has become too infected for a more conservative tooth filling to treat. This means your tooth infection may be a lot more serious than you expect, and will only grow worse the longer you wait to treat it.
The importance of a tooth’s root canal
Your tooth root is the part of the tooth that extends into your jawbone, anchoring the crown of your tooth to your dental ridge. The inner canal of your tooth’s root contains nerves and blood vessels, which your jawbone makes use of by sending your tooth minerals and nutrients through it. In severe cases of tooth decay, the infection that has eroded your tooth’s crown structure can reach the inner chamber and root canal, creating a far greater risk to the tooth and your oral health. The discomfort and other symptoms of your tooth decay will also become much more severe.
How to treat the internal infection
To treat an internally infected tooth, your dentist may suggest root canal treatment, and recommend that you undergo it as soon as possible. Like a tooth filling, the procedure is designed to remove all traces of infection from your tooth structure. However, because the infection has reached the tissues inside of your tooth, root canal treatment is more involved than a tooth filling. During the treatment, we’ll carefully access the inner pulp chamber and root canal of the tooth to remove the infected tissues, then fill and seal the chambers to protect them from further infection.
What to do next for your tooth
Removing the tissues from within your tooth means the tooth no longer needs minerals and nutrients from your jawbone. Essentially, the tooth is no longer a living structure. However, it can still remain and function as meant to, providing balance to your bite and stimulation to your jawbone, after your root canal treatment. To ensure the tooth’s continued success, we can recommend placing a custom-designed dental crown over the tooth following your root canal treatment.
Learn more about root canal treatment
Root canal treatment can be a good way to save your tooth from severe infection, as well as preserve the remainder of your tooth’s healthy, natural structure. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
