Root canals have a poor reputation, but due to modern microtools, advances in treatment methods, and our anesthesia options, root canal therapy (RCT) is gaining a new and improved reputation. The truth is, that nagging or sharp toothache that sent you to the dentist in the first place will be relieved with RCT. The procedure removes infection that’s pressing against the tooth’s nerve. If root canal therapy is advised for you, it means your tooth is most likely treatable, so you won’t need to think about extraction and replacement. There is always a bright side.
No need to fret a root canal. Visit Chisholm Trail Smile Center! Duncan dentist Dr. Matthew Bridges will examine your teeth and x-rays to provide his opinion on your diagnosis. In some cases, root canal therapy isn’t even necessary. Call us at (580) 255-4880 to make an appointment.
Why not a simple crown?
If the dentist suggests root canal therapy, chances are you are in pain. That means that a crack or an infection has developed in the root of your tooth. A crack or cavity that’s been restored with a crown or filling can succumb to internal infection, if the restoration has failed. Other times, a perfectly healthy tooth incurs a crack that you’ll never notice, until infection enters the tooth’s core.
One of our foremost goals at Chisholm Trail Smile Center is to help you keep as much healthy dental tissue as you can, when we place dental restorations. You can be sure that Dr. Bridges will provide the least invasive treatment for this very reason. If he can repair your damaged tooth with a dental crown, he will.
However, if infection has reached the pulp in your tooth’s core and canals, a simple crown cannot restore the tooth. It would only trap the infection inside, and that’s not an option. In fact, the only possible treatment other than RCT would be extraction.
What is a root canal?
Your tooth has tunnels, or canals, running down through the roots. The canals branch off from a central core that’s filled with blood vessels, connective tissue, and a nerve. The core’s contents are collectively known as dental pulp.
When the pulp is infected, pressure on the tooth’s nerve causes pain. In some cases, the pain may be so severe that the patient cannot sleep or concentrate to work. During root canal therapy, the infected pulp is removed. All associated canals are cleaned and disinfected, then the core and canals are filled with a putty-like substance called gutta percha. To finish the procedure, a crown is secured to strengthen and protect the tooth.
The Bright Side – Keep your tooth!
Dr. Bridges offers topical anesthetic, local anesthetic, and even dental sedation if necessary, so your root canal therapy can be performed while you remain comfortable. If you’ve been told that you need a root canal, look at the bright side. After root canal therapy, your tooth will no longer ache. You’ll bite and chew without pain, and you didn’t have to undergo dental extraction, followed by implant placement. With today’s developments and technology, implants aren’t anything to fear either…but that’s another blog.
If you’ve been told that you need RCT or suspect that your toothache is due to an internal infection, Dr. Matthew Bridges can evaluate and diagnose the issue, and answer all your questions. Call our Duncan, OK dental office today at (580) 255-4880 to make an appointment.
