What are Root Canals?
Root canals are dental procedures used to treat and preserve teeth with infected roots. Millions of infected teeth are saved with root canal treatments every year!
Infected roots, if left untreated, can cause quite a few issues. When teeth become infected, patients can experience significant pain and swelling. Inside the teeth, below the enamel and the dentin, there is soft tissue which contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. This helps to grow your tooth during development.
Decay in the root can be caused by an injury or a severely untreated cavity. If not treated in time, the affected tooth could need to be removed.
With root canals, the doctor takes away the damaged parts of the tooth, and of the infected root. Then, we’ll seal and fill the root. After this, we’ll restore the organic portion of the tooth with new material. Usually, this is either a cap or a crown. Teeth are candidates for root canals if decay and/or damage allows bacteria to infect the pulp – the soft tissue – inside of the tooth.
There are several advantages to treating an infected root with a root canal treatment. It allows for efficient chewing, normal biting force and sensation, a natural appearance, and it protects other teeth from excessive wear or stain.
There is a stigma surrounding root canal treatment that may dissuade some patients from seeking it. But remember: A root canal is intended to alleviate pain, not to cause it. If you think you could be suffering from an infected root, seek help from your dentist immediately. A tooth affected by an infected root is susceptible to fracturing.
At Paradigm, we always strive to offer the best options for all of our patients. Root canal therapy is the right treatment for many of our patients because they prefer to preserve as much of their natural tooth as possible. Similar procedures often extract the diseased, and also the healthy parts of your tooth. If you think that a root canal may be a good option for your dental health, take a few moments to make an appointment at our Beaverton office.
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