Understanding Root Canal Treatment

Understanding Root Canal TreatmentRoot canal treatment is a fairly common dental procedure. However, if you yourself have never undergone the process, then you may not know what to expect when your dentist recommends it. The words, “root canal treatment,” may cause you to get a little nervous. For many years, root canal was the punchline for an invasive, painful procedure. The truth, though, is that root canal treatment has advanced much in the past couple of decades. The treatment is often faster and more comfortable than many patients expect. Most importantly, a root canal treatment is often your best chance at preserving what may be left of a severely infected or inflamed tooth. 

When Is It Necessary?

Restorative dental treatments, such as fillings or root canal treatments, are designed to address a specific problem and stop it from growing worse. In the case of a root canal treatment, the problem is often an infection in the internal tissues of your tooth, known as the pulp. The soft tissues of your tooth’s pulp travel through the root canal and into your jawbone. At the stage of tooth decay where the internal tissues are affected, you may be experiencing quite a bit of pain from the inflammation and/or infection. Treating the infection may be the only way to stop it from moving into other areas of your body through your bloodstream.

Saving Your Tooth From Extraction

If an infection is allowed to wreak havoc on the internal structures of your tooth (i.e. a root canal treatment is not done), the tooth may need to be extracted. Extraction may be the last option to protect you from growing infection. A root canal treatment involves disinfecting your tooth of the infection and restoring it, often with a dental crown. A root canal treatment restores your tooth and prevents the need for a necessary extraction.

Can root canal treatment save your tooth?

Can we help you understand your dental treatment better? To schedule a consultation with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX call us at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.