Endodontics is often the last line of defense when it comes to saving a tooth. Commonly known as root canal therapy, it can treat severely decayed, infected, or damaged teeth. Performing the procedure on a tooth also helps prevent infection.
The crown of a tooth, the visible part above the gums, consists of three different layers. The outermost layer is called the enamel. It is the strongest part of the body, and it is designed to withstand the forces generated while chewing and the acids made by bacteria that make their home in the mouth.
Next to the enamel is the dentin, a less durable part of a tooth filled with tiny nerve endings. It is significantly more sensitive than enamel, and people often experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods/beverages when their dentin is exposed.
The innermost layer of a tooth’s crown is called the pulp chamber. This area is sealed from the tooth’s other layers, and it houses the tooth’s nerve, connective tissues, and blood vessels. Decay or damage to a tooth can open this area, leaving the tooth vulnerable to infection. An exposed pulp chamber can also lead to excruciating toothaches.
A tooth with a compromised pulp chamber needs endodontics to save it. The procedure usually brings an end to any pain that the patient is experiencing, and it prevents/treats infections.
Endodontics therapy has an unfair reputation as a scary procedure that patients should be afraid of, but that is not the case. Patients do not experience significant pain during the treatment because local anesthetics are used to numb the area being treated. The treatment does not cause pain; it actually brings an end to the pain of severe toothaches.
Root canal therapy often starts with the dentist examining the patient’s tooth to determine if it is the right approach. Diagnostic tests like X-rays might be requested to help with the evaluation. Once the patient is cleared for the procedure, a local anesthetic is injected around the tooth being treated.
The dentist then uses a drill to make a hole into the pulp chamber. Dental files are used to pull out the soft tissues in the pulp chamber until the area is empty. The dentist cleans the area and inserts medication into the tooth before sealing it with gutta-percha. Crowns are typically recommended for teeth that have been restored with root canals to prevent them from breaking further apart and to restore the tooth’s aesthetics.
There is no significant recovery period after getting endodontic therapy. Some patients might experience soreness around the area, but most patients do not. Most people leave the clinic feeling better than they did before because the tooth pain that brought them to the clinic is typically gone.
Do you think that you might need a root canal? Give us a call or visit our Bakersfield clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://brimhalldentalgroup.com or call Brimhall Dental Group at (661) 249-1122 for an appointment in our Bakersfield office.
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