Root Canal Treatment in Loudon, Tennessee
A root canal can save your teeth. Root canals are the main procedure found in endodontics, the specialty of dentistry that deals with the treatment of the softer tissue areas beneath the tooth. When a tooth is in decay, it can inflame and infect this soft tissue area, also known as the pulp. This area consists of the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue and nourishes the growth and health of the root inside your tooth.
Who is at risk for a root canal?
Root canals are very common among patients. Anyone can develop inflammation or infection of the tooth area. This type of inflammation can be caused by a variety of things such as decay, bad crowns, a cracked tooth, or general force or trauma to that particular tooth. If a serious infection is not treated, then pain will occur, and you may even develop an abscess at the bottom of the tooth that is very uncomfortable.
In Loudon, TN, root canal therapy specialist and dentist Dr. Michael E. Bowman, D.D.S. can address the Endodontic need of your procedure explaining your options and providing the best services to give you great care.
How Does a Root Canal Work?
During a root canal, the infected soft tissue inside the tooth is removed, and the area that is infected is cleaned and disinfected. It is then filled with a dental material referred to as gutta-percha. This material is basically a rubber type of filling.
Once the tooth is ready and sealed up, a filling or a crown is placed for extra protection. The tooth will now work like any other tooth minus the pain!
Is a Root Canal Painful?
Despite all the rumors over the years, root canals today are not what they used to be. Nowadays getting a route canal is almost the same process as getting a filling. It can be done fairly quickly in one or two visits. The time frame will depend on the extent of your dental issue. However, regardless of the extent of the decay, the appointment will be comfortable for you and healing time will be minimal.
The Benefits of Root Canal
The difference between getting a root canal or an implant is that you are saving and utilizing your natural tooth that was infected. During a root canal, that particular tooth is being revived and put back into place in a safe and comfortable way.
Some of the benefits include:
- Comfortable bite and eating
- Your teeth look completely natural
- The restored tooth supports and protects the surrounding teeth
- You can eat and speak efficiently and without pain
With root canal therapy, you get to keep your real teeth and correct those issues, so you don’t have to be constantly at the dentist. If you take great care of your root canal, your fixed tooth could last a very long time or your entire life!
Other Endodontic Procedures
Injured Teeth
Sometimes our teeth become injured due to life events. Many injuries are from sports and involve a chipped tooth, dislodged or even one that was knocked out by forced impact. It’s important to see a dentist quickly when these kind of episodes occur. An injured tooth could affect surrounding teeth. A dentist who practices endodontics is prepared to handle this problem.
Repeat Treatments
If your first root canal does not heal properly, you may need to be treated again. Some causes of retreatment would be the material was not able to prevent the inside of the tooth from being contaminated. Another reason could be smaller or narrower canals were missed during the treatment. These canals are often missed because they were not being seen in the original exams.
New Problems
Any new decay in your teeth can cause a new infection in the tooth that was worked on before. If your crown had a chip or crack, it could cause the tooth to become inflamed or infected. The last being if you damaged your tooth.
Dental Implants
We always want to keep our real teeth when we can but in more serious cases we may need to turn to dental implants. Implants are a great tooth replacement option and something you can discuss with your dentist as an alternative to decayed, damaged, or missing teeth.
Saving your natural tooth should always be your first choice when dental care is needed. Nothing, not even the most advanced implants or bridges, can truly replace your natural tooth.
Both root canal therapy and dental implants are a fantastic option when it comes to resolving ongoing tooth pain and problems. In most cases, Drs. Michael and Jason Bowman will always try to opt on the side of saving your natural tooth. We will evaluate the state of your tooth and discuss with you what your best options are for making your teeth comfortable again!
Contact the friendly staff at Dr. Michael E. Bowman, DDS today for a consultation.
