When bacteria penetrate your tooth, this can cause the tissue inside your tooth (known as the pulp) to become infected and inflamed. This leads to temperature sensitivity to hot and cold foods, pain, swelling, and tooth discoloration.
A root canal treatment is a dental procedure that removes infected pulp from your tooth; the tooth is then sanitized and sealed to prevent bacteria from reentering the tooth. It then receives a filling or crown to ensure that the tooth is properly restored. Here are a few benefits of using a root canal treatment to treat your tooth.
1. A Root Canal Can Alleviate Your Discomfort
The pulp is soft tissue rich in nerves and blood vessels that cause severe pain and discomfort when infected. A root canal is a safe, fast option for removing the infected pulp so that your pain, swelling, and sensitivity go away as quickly as possible.
2. Root Canal Treatment Can Help You Save Your Tooth
Root canal treatment rids your tooth of the diseased tissue so that you're able to keep the tooth. An alternative treatment to a root canal is tooth extraction. A tooth extraction surgically removes the infected tooth from your mouth. When you're missing a tooth, this can cause the other teeth in your mouth to shift, causing overcrowding and poor alignment.
Without your tooth's root to stimulate it, your jawbone will begin to deteriorate, increasing your chances of experiencing future tooth and gum decay. Jawbone deterioration can even make it difficult for you to comfortably speak and eat.
While you can replace a missing tooth with a dental implant to reduce your risk of dental complications, it's cheaper to keep your own tooth.
3. A Root Canal Keeps Your Other Teeth and Gums Healthy
When left untreated, a diseased tooth can spread the infection to your other teeth, causing them to become unhealthy. An untreated dental infection can even impact your overall health if the infection spreads throughout your body and even cause a dangerous condition known as septicemia (also known as blood poisoning).
Root canal treatment gets rid of the infection so that your mouth and body remain healthy.
4. Root Canal Treatment Helps You Preserve Your Smile
A smile with strong, healthy teeth helps you feel self-confident. A root canal gets rid of infection that can erode or discolor your tooth, while the filling or crown that's fitted after your root canal will ensure that your tooth is structurally sound and visually appealing.
For more information about a root canal, speak with a dentist.
Share16 December 2022
