Root canal therapy is a conservative procedure performed by a dentist to save an infected natural tooth. This treatment is taught in dental school so every dentist is experienced in the area of endodontics. Getting a root canal in Fort Worth Texas, is a common procedure.
This therapy is performed on a patient with an infected root canal. This infection is common in patients who have a cavity that is left untreated. A cavity is formed by a breakdown caused by acid and bacteria. Our mouth is filled with microorganisms that thrive on carbohydrates from the food we eat and excrete acid. They are part of the oral cavity and aid in digestion. When a person has poor oral hygiene, these organisms increase in number, and they begin to eat into our enamel and dentin.
Blunt force to a tooth can kill the pulp, also causing an infection. If the blood flow from the alveolar bone is cut off, the patient may require root canal therapy as well. Tooth fractures are also a possible entryway for bacteria. Periodontal disease can lead to pulp infection. When the pulp dies, this can cause an abscess to form around the tooth and infect the jawbone.
When performed correctly, there is about a 90% success rate for root canal treatment. The main pulp chamber and accessory canals have to be completely debrided to ensure that bacteria does not remain behind. The teeth that receive treatment may become brittle in time, and that makes them susceptible to fractures. A patient is usually advised to have a crown placed over the affected tooth. This is done to rebuild it and keep it safe from secondary infection.
Getting root canal therapy will protect you from possible complications like abscesses and alveolar bone infection. Aside from the health benefits, this procedure allows you to keep your natural tooth and it decreases the chance of jaw shrinkage.
If you have teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold food and exhibit pain upon biting down, you may be a candidate for root canal therapy. Schedule an appointment with our Fort Worth dentistry team as soon as possible.
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Many people see the root canal as the least desired of all dental procedures. Common belief holds that root canals are difficult to go through, and that in the long run the tooth treated with a root canal is likely to have to be removed.
This reputation, however, is unfair. In some cases, the root canal procedure is the best way to save a tooth. Rather than resulting in a tooth’s eventual removal, a root canal can help the patient keep a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
The root canal is technically an open area inside the tooth where the tooth’s sensitive pulp and nerves are housed. If the pulp becomes infected or the root is severely damaged or extensively decayed, a root canal might be necessary to keep the tooth intact.
To perform a root canal, the dentist removes the infected tissue from within the tooth. The nerve is also removed. The interior of the tooth is cleansed with a special antiseptic solution to ensure the infection will not return. After the interior is thoroughly cleansed, the tooth is sealed. If necessary, the dentist will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth. When the procedure is complete, the tooth has no feeling, but can remain in its original position to prevent other teeth from moving. Keeping your original tooth will also help prevent changes from occurring in your bite.
Although no one wants to hear they need a root canal, it is important to see a dentist if you are experiencing swelling or pain around a tooth. If you are in need of a root canal in Fort Worth, please contact a local dentist for more information.
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The root canal is a narrow canal within the roots of all teeth that conveys the nerves and blood vessels to the tooth. When the pulp tissue within the tooth dies and starts to cause pain, the dead nerves and blood vessels should be removed and filled with an appropriate filling material, normally gutta-percha. This procedure is called a root canal treatment, or more commonly, a “root canal.”
This procedure is usually performed by general dentists in Fort Worth, or by an endodontist, a dental specialist trained to perform root canal treatments.
The dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth to determine the exact cause of the pain or the swelling. He will then conduct pulp vitality tests to determine the health of the pulp in the tooth. Radiographs of the tooth will be taken to determine any infection of the roots of the teeth in the form of a dark spot on the x-ray near the roots. Only after a diagnosis has been established, the dentist proceed with root canal treatment.
Performing root canal treatment is vital to saving the tooth. Nothing can match the aesthetics and function of a natural tooth. Preserving the tooth is a more cost-effective and conservative procedure than extraction and replacing the tooth with a dental bridge. If the treatment has been a success, the root canal filling will stay for a lifetime. If pulp tissue has been left behind accidentally or if the root canal hasn’t been sealed properly from surrounding tissue, the treatment can fail.
People shudder at the thought of undergoing root canal treatment, due to the negative impression garnered by this procedure. Today, root canals are done only under local anesthesia. Infection and pain is controlled with the help of antibiotics and pain-killers. Sedatives are also available for anxious patients to allow them to undergo treatment comfortably.
What are the normal indications for root canal treatment?
- Pulpal involvement of the dental decay. This is felt as a sharp pain while eating or drinking hot and cold food.
- Tooth infection and dental abscess formation. Pimple formation on the gums is a sign of dental abscess. Persistent toothache and tenderness near the gums are other signs. Pain on chewing or application of pressure on the tooth, (towards the jaw bone) indicates the need for root canal treatment.
- Tooth fracture and exposure of pulp. Tooth trauma can be identified by discoloration of the traumatized tooth. Traumatized tooth may or may not exhibit pain.
- Tooth transplantation or tooth resection
- Tooth avulsion
- Gum abscess. This can be identified by the swelling on the gums that is painful to touch.
- Severely weakened tooth following wide spread dental decay.
- Very deep dental cavity that cannot be filled by normal means.
- Accidental exposure of the pulp can also result in root canal treatment if the pulp becomes irreversibly inflamed.
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Root canal therapy is a conservative procedure performed by a dentist to save an infected natural tooth. This treatment is taught in dental school so every dentist is experienced in the area of endodontics. Getting a root canal in Fort Worth Texas, is a common procedure.