Does Root Canal Treatment Avoid The Need For Extraction?
A look at this often misunderstood, but important, dental treatment.
At Mike Allen’s Dental Practice in Burton, we have performed many many root canal procedures over the years. Almost without exception, when we suggest this treatment, there is a noticeable look of apprehension on the patient’s face.
This is a shame as root canal therapy can be an excellent way to preserve a natural tooth, avoiding the need for it to be extracted. It should be made clear to patients though, that this procedure can only save the natural tooth when there is an infection of the materials in the canals of the teeth. Where the enamel itself is badly decayed, beyond the stage where a dental filling, or even a crown, could save it, extraction is likely to be the only solution available.
In instances where a tooth does need to be extracted, we will discuss with you, possible replacement options such as dentures or dental implants, so there is no need to live with a gap in your teeth.
Infected root canals
Back to root canal treatment though. First of all, the canals of the teeth lead from the tooth down into its roots. This is the area where tiny blood vessels and nerves are stored. Sometimes an abscess can also form in this area which can be very painful indeed. Unlike some decay which can sometimes be detected visually, x-rays are needed to spot signs of infection in the canals. If this is found, then root canal treatment is by far the best option available.
The procedure itself is relatively straightforward and should not be feared (more of that later!) Once the area of the procedure has been made numb with a local anaesthetic, the top of the tooth is removed so that our Burton dentist can access the canals.
The infected material is then removed from these areas and the hollowed inner tooth treated with an antibacterial substance to ensure that all bacteria has been removed to prevent re-infection. Once this has been done, a filling is then placed, along with the addition of a dental crown in most cases. This adds not only a natural look to the tooth, but also helps to ensure that it is strong enough for daily use.
Painful?
We would like to dispel the myth that a root canal treatment is painful. Professional consensus on this seems to be that this myth likely originated in the days before x-rays were common. As abscesses would not, therefore, be detected, treatment would have gone ahead, very likely causing severe pain. Any abscess now discovered by x-ray, is treated prior to root canal treatment being carried out. We always aim to help our patients keep their natural teeth for as long as possible, and root canal therapy is just one of the ways that we help to achieve this.
Good overall oral health care is key to having healthy teeth, and seeing a professional such as Mike Allen for regular check ups will play a large part in this. If you haven’t seen a dentist for a while or are new to the area and are looking for a good local dentist in Burton, please call Mike Allen’s Dental Practice today on 01283 845345.