A root canal is a dental procedure that is needed whenever a tooth’s pulp chamber is opened up due to decay or damage. Some people put off getting a root canal due to fears of it being a painful experience. It is an unfounded fear since patients receive local anesthetics during root canal therapy. The anesthetic prevents the patient from feeling pain during the procedure, and most patients do not experience significant discomfort once the anesthetic wears off.
The pulp chamber of the tooth contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. These soft tissues are usually protected by the pulp chamber being sealed off from the rest of a tooth, but decay or damage can open the area up. This allows bacteria, food particles, and acids to reach them, leading to excruciating toothaches and putting the tooth at risk of infection.
Thinking about postponing getting a root canal? Here are some of the reasons why that is not the best approach:
An infected tooth can be saved by performing a root canal to remove the soft tissues in the pulp chamber and stopping the infection in its tracks. This prevents the infection from spreading to other parts of the body like the brain and heart. A tooth infection can turn into a life-threatening condition when it is allowed to spread to other parts of the body.
Some of the signs a tooth infection might have spread to other areas include increased heart rate, nausea, and chills. Once an infection starts to threaten other areas of the body, saving the tooth might no longer be an option. An extraction might be recommended if the dentist deems it the most effective way to stop the infection from spreading.
The toothaches caused by a tooth’s pulp being exposed to acids and bacteria in the mouth are some of the worst a person can ever experience. The pain is intense enough to make it impossible to sleep at night or focus on tasks during the day. Over-the-counter painkillers are often not enough to alleviate the pain caused by such damage to a tooth.
The only permanent way to bring such toothaches to an end is by performing root canal therapy or extracting the tooth.
Root canal therapy allows dentists to save severely damaged or decayed teeth. The longer a person waits before getting treatment for their compromised pulp, the less likely the dentist will be able to save their tooth.
While oral prosthetics like dental implants are almost as good as natural teeth, saving a patient’s real tooth is always the first option. A root canal makes that possible.
Dealing with a severely damaged or decayed tooth? Don't delay in getting the care you need. Contact our Boynton Beach dental clinic today to set up an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://boyntonbeachtownsquaredentistry.com/ or call Town Square Dentistry at (561) 782-9633 for an appointment in our Boynton Beach office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Root Canal Treatment in Boynton Beach, FL.
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