Good oral health is very important and is a vital aspect of general health and well-being. Some common diseases that may cause infection and inflamed pulp, in turn threatening your oral health by causing severe toothache and abscess formation, include deep tooth decay and dental trauma like cracks or fractures.
Depending on the severity of the infection, you may require an emergency root canal. This is a dental treatment whereby, instead of extraction, the doctor saves the infected tooth by removing any dying parts, whether tissues or nerves, from inside it.
According to a government website, in New York City one in three children between the ages of eight and nine have untreated tooth decay, while in the U.S., nine in ten adults have experienced tooth decay, and half of the adults have gum diseases. It is therefore important to consult a dentist to recommend the right dental procedure.
These are the five facts about a root canal treatment.
Preservation of Your Natural Teeth
As mentioned, this procedure works by saving your tooth, which in turn preserves your beautiful smile. The doctor works by removing the crown to expose the pulp, which is the internal part with the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.
Instead of an extraction, the dentist addresses the dental problem by cleaning and disinfecting the pulp. Once the procedure is done, the exposed pulp is crowned again to restore its original strength and appearance.
An Emergency Root Canal is a painless procedure
From the description, it sounds as if you will need a high tolerance for pain; however, generally this is a painless procedure that doesn’t take much time to complete. You might need emergency treatment if your case is severe, but whatever the case may be, the doctor uses a local anesthetic to numb the area. This means you will not feel any pain whatsoever.
It is Simple and Straightforward
You don’t have to spend hours at the doctor’s office or even make multiple trips to have this procedure done. In one sitting, after administering local anesthetic, the dentist will remove a small portion of the crown to gain access to the interior and expose the pulp.
Once there is access, the infected pulp is removed, and the interior is cleaned and disinfected as required. It is then filled with the necessary material that will prevent anything foreign from intruding in the future. Finally, the top side is also crowned to close the access, and the procedure is done.
It Prevents the Infection From Spreading Further
Root canal treatment doesn’t only save your teeth, it also prevents severe infections that may result from the spread of bacteria to other parts of the mouth and beyond. If left untreated, the bacteria can spread to other teeth and the jawbone, causing life-threatening diseases such as sepsis, which is caused by bacteria in the blood.
High Success Rate
The procedure is completely safe and patients who have done it experience long-lasting pain relief and cured infections. With proper oral care and hygiene, such as brushing regularly, going for dental checkups, and flossing, your root canal can last a lifetime. However, re-treatment may be necessary if re-infection occurs.
An emergency root canal may be necessary to cure life-threatening diseases as well as relieve oral pain and infections. It is therefore important to have regular dental checkups or to at least seek medical help from a qualified dentist to prevent further complications.
Author Plate
Ellen Smythe is a Practice Manager at Smile Arts of NY, a dental office that provides the best care (including emergency treatments) and advanced modern cosmetic dental procedures like teeth whitening, porcelain crowns, veneers, Invisalign and dental implants. If you’re looking for the best services, including emergency root canal treatment, NYC-based Smile Arts have been helping New York City residents achieve the look they’ve always wanted with their state-of-the-art, affordable dental services since 2010.