Root Canal Therapy
(Endodontics)
Root canals are not everyone’s favorite topic, but they are an essential and effective part of any dental treatment plan when the inside of your tooth gets infected or damaged. To understand a root canal procedure, it’s important to understand a little more about your tooth anatomy.
Your tooth has a strong enamel covering the crown (the part of the tooth you can see). Under the enamel is a layer of dentin that protects the inside of your tooth, which is called the pulp. The pulp has all the nerves and blood vessels and sits inside what is called the pulp cavity. That pulp cavity extends down into your gums (the root of your tooth) where the tooth connects to the jawbone and blood vessels.
When the enamel protecting your tooth gets damaged, bacteria can get inside and multiply, infecting the pulp. That infection or inflammation can lead to serious pain, and in many cases, the only way to save the tooth is to remove the damaged pulp with a root canal procedure. Otherwise, the remainder of the tooth will continue to decay, and the tissues around it (your gums and other teeth) can become infected. Untreated decay in the root canal can also lead to a tooth abscess, which is a painful condition that can eventually cause the tooth to fall out.
While tooth decay is a common reason people need a root canal, it’s not the only reason. Your tooth may also get infected or damaged as a result of repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, large fillings that loosen and leave room for bacteria to get inside the tooth, cracks or chips in your teeth, or an injury that damages your teeth.
Root Canal Procedures
After your adult teeth emerge from your gums, the nerves inside them don’t have much of a role to play. Removing the pulp can be done safely without affecting the function of your tooth.
During a root canal procedure, a dentist will remove the infected and damaged dental pulp, fill the tooth, then cap it with a dental crown to protect the inside of your tooth and restore the natural structure and appearance. While root canals do have a bit of a bad reputation, our dentists work hard to make sure that the procedure is as comfortable and painless as possible. Treatment has improved significantly over the years, and most people say that having a root canal today is much like having a tooth filled. And once the procedure is complete, you will get relief from the pain of your infected tooth.
Tooth infections are serious. Waiting to get treatment will only make the pain worse and could limit your options for available treatments. Saving your natural tooth is the most affordable option for treating decay and is the best choice for your overall oral health.
If you’re suffering from tooth pain, come to Young Family Dental and see our dentists today. We have five convenient Utah locations in Orem, American Fork, Saratoga Springs, Riverton and West Jordan. Schedule your appointment today to talk about how we can fix your tooth pain.