How Do You Know if You Need a Root Canal?

A root canal treatment is a form of therapy aimed at restoring a damaged tooth, usually as a result of a bacterial infection.

The tooth is made up of 3 parts, each with different roles.

Enamel- The hard layer that covers the top part of a tooth and shields it and the dentine from damage.

Dentine- A layer underneath the tooth enamel that contributes to most of the tooth structure.

Pulp- part of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels and houses the root canal.

During treatment, a Scottsdale dentist will surgically remove the infected pulp, clean it, and disinfect it before filling and sealing the wound.

Procedure

there is a soft tissue inside your tooth found underneath the enamel and dentine called the pulp. Pulp tissue contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that help the tooth grow by providing it with nourishment.

We will use an anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any pain during surgery. Then, we will make an incision on the pulp to remove all the dead tissue inside.

Using a decontaminate and a special solution, we will thoroughly clean the area and seal the wound with adhesive. Closing the wound is vital to ensure there is a very low chance of reinfection.

After we are done, we may recommend dental crowns or fillings to strengthen the tooth and make it less susceptible to damage.

You can have the entire procedure done in 1 or 2 appointments depending on the condition of your damaged tooth. You don’t have to worry about where the tooth will get nourishment after pulp removal since a fully developed tooth can survive without its pulp by getting nourishment from surrounding tissues.

Root Canal Symptoms; When to Seek Treatment

Tooth Infection

Once your tooth is infected, the jawbone will start weakening, and ligaments that are near the tooth will begin to swell, causing the tooth to loosen from its socket. So that you prevent the infection, you must learn to detect dental problems that may require canal treatment as early as possible. Common root canal symptoms include dental pain, increased tooth sensitivity, bleeding, and swelling of the gums. Visit a dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, as soon as you start experiencing any of the symptoms above to prevent severe tooth infection.

Loose Fillings and Cavities

Loose dental fillings, cracking, and tooth decay can make your teeth prone to infection. Once the structure of your tooth is compromised, bacteria can find their way into root openings and lead to infection of the pulp and jawbone tissue. If you prolong treatment, your tooth can become too weak and damaged to be restored and require extraction to prevent the infection from spreading further.

Damage to the Tooth’s Pulp

If you get into an accident that results in injuries to the tooth pulp, ensure you visit an emergency dentist near you immediately. A severely damaged pulp can not heal itself and may cause you to experience prolonged dental pain and increased tooth sensitivity.

How to Prevent Damage to the Root Canal

Prevention is better than cure. At Mercando Dental Care, we believe in preventive dental care to avoid future dental emergencies. Here are tips to follow to protect your root canal from damage:

Practice good oral hygiene by brushing at least 2 times a day and flossing regularly to prevent the accumulation of plaque and bacteria

Visit your dentist after every 6 months or less for regular dental checkups for early detection of dental problems

visit a dentist as soon as you notice signs of decay or infection in your teeth to prevent it from spreading.

Benefits of getting root canal treatment

Treatment Is Fast and Effective

Compared to alternative dental procedures, root canal treatment is better since it is faster and has a low recovery time. Methods such as tooth extraction can take longer and cost more without preserving your natural teeth.

Prevent Tooth Loss

There are many ways of stopping the spread of infection, tooth extraction being a good example. Although beneficial, dental extraction is less preferable among patients who want to keep their natural teeth. Fortunately, if you opt for root canal treatment, you can enjoy the same benefits as dental extraction without losing your natural teeth.

Stops the Spread of Infection

An infected tooth pulp can harbor bacteria which slowly spreads to adjacent teeth with time. If not taken seriously, a patient with an infected pulp can end up losing several teeth to infection and spend a lot of money restoring their missing teeth. Root canal treatment removes part of the infected pulp and stops the spread of bacteria.

Saves Jawbone Tissue From Degeneration

Severe infection of the tooth can lead to tooth loss. When you have missing teeth, the lack of jawbone stimulation can cause jawbone tissue to degenerate rapidly and cause a sunk in facial appearance. Root canal treatment can prevent the weakening of the jawbone tissue and preserve your facial features through nerve stimulation.

Conclusion

Root canal treatment is an effective procedure that is affordable and has a short recovery time (about 1 week). In addition, patients who undergo root canal treatment don’t have to worry about high dental bills since most of their dental insurance will cover it. Visit our dental clinic today for the best root canal treatment in Scottsdale, AZ. We use modern dental technology to ensure our patients benefit from affordable, comprehensive dental care.