Tooth damage does not typically occur in one fell swoop. It happens gradually, one layer at a time. This can be advantageous when you keep up with routine dental care. Most of the time, problems can be caught early when dental exams take place every six months. If too much time passes in between these important visits, a small cavity can turn into a severe toothache.
An interesting way that many people deal with this type of problem is to take over-the-counter pain medication. This can improve comfort for a short time, but will not resolve the problem that is causing pain. Dr. Vines and the team at Pure Gold Professionals in Dentistry of Redlands, CA encourage patients to come in for prompt treatment for tooth pain. Conservative procedures like root canals can preserve natural structure and put an end to discomfort.
It used to be that an infected tooth would have to be extracted. Today, root canal therapy is the method most commonly used to treat infection at the center of a tooth. As soon as the infected pulp and nerves are removed, pain is relieved for good. This approach is a much better option than extracting a tooth that could be saved.
One of the primary goals of modern dentistry is to help patients keep their natural teeth. Root canal therapy facilitates this. The procedure is performed with local anesthetic so you feel no pain while our team gently repairs damage. Much of what we do will feel no different than when you have a cavity filled. The outer layer of damaged matter is removed before we access the center of the tooth, where tissue has become inflamed with infection. Tiny files are used to remove this tissue, and we then sterilize and seal off the canals.
A tooth treated with root canal therapy is somewhat fragile due to the large amount of damage that had occurred from infection, and from the lack of circulation to the tooth after treatment. To prevent further damage, a crown is affixed over the tooth. Initially, this will be a temporary crown. About two weeks after root canal treatment, a permanent crown is placed.
Root canal therapy is an advanced treatment that must be performed to address infection. With good oral care and regular exams and cleanings, you give yourself an excellence chance of avoiding the need for this treatment. Don’t wait for dental problems to cause pain. Schedule your exam at Pure Gold Professionals in Dentistry today.