Root Canal An Overview
Root canals are a conservative treatment option for advanced tooth decay. Ridgetop VA dentists Dr. Datta, Dr. Sensenbrenner and Dr. Shaw almost always recommend a root canal treatment in efforts to save the natural tooth from extraction when a dental filling is no longer a suitable treatment option.
A root canal procedure is needed when the inner most part of a tooth, called the pulp, becomes infected or inflamed or is injured. In a healthy tooth, the enamel and dentin layers will protect the pulp. These layers can be breached and cause damage to the pulp when tooth decay (a cavity) is left untreated. Cavities will erode these layers and eventually spread to the inner part of your tooth, allowing bacteria to get to the pulp. Damage to the pulp can also be caused by cracks in the tooth that exposes the pulp and trauma to the tooth that can be caused by hard impact, teeth grinding, or jaw misalignment.
Damage to the pulp can cause many painful symptoms. These include pain in the tooth, swelling, sensitivity to hot and cold, and your gums to feel hot. The only way to relieve this pain is to remove the infected pulp. A common misconception with a root canal is that it is very painful when in actuality the pain is from the infection itself. A root canal procedure is very similar to getting a tooth filling and most people will feel a sense of relief once the infection has been removed. It is a routine treatment that will remove the decayed tissue from the root canal of the tooth leaving most of the tooth intact. An infected tooth should be treated as soon as possible to avoid the need for a tooth extraction.
Reston, VA area dentist office Ridgetop Dental offers root canal procedures from the comfort of our family-friendly dentist office. Your dentist will discuss available sedation options if necessary.
