If you hesitate to treat a cavity with a tooth-colored filling, then the decay can eventually reach the tooth’s pulp—the chamber that holds the tooth’s tissues and nerves. Your tooth’s pulp is connected to the root, allowing the nerves and tissues to reach the jawbone where the root is secured. Root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, is the process of cleaning out and restoring an infected tooth pulp and the root canal connected to it. In many cases, it is the last option for saving a tooth before it becomes too compromised for repair, and requires extraction.
What to Expect from Root Canal Treatment
Because root canal treatment is more complex than filling a tooth, many patients mistakenly expect the procedure to be complicated and painful. However, with modern technology and the right dental sedation option, root canal treatment is typically a comfortable, conservative procedure that can be completed in just a single visit.
After anesthetizing the tooth and surrounding tissues (and administering sedation, if you choose), your dentist will carefully access the tooth’s interior to clean bacteria and infection from the pulp. Then, your dentist will fill the pulp and root canal with a biocompatible, rubber-like material called gutta percha, designed specifically to bolster the strength of the tooth root and pulp. After endodontic treatment, the tooth may be weaker due to the loss of its internal tissues. Therefore, your dentist will likely suggest placing a lifelike dental crown over it for protection against your bite’s pressure.
Ask Your Dentist About Endodontic Treatment
In cases of severe tooth decay, a tooth filling may not be enough and your dentist may suggest saving the tooth with root canal treatment. To learn more, call Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, today at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.