Root Canal Therapy: The Woodlands, Texas
Most people hear they need a root canal and immediately fear and stress set in. Many are conditioned to believe that root canals are painful when they are really meant to relieve pain. Advancements in root canal therapy allow us to perform the procedure with speed, efficiency and precision all the while making your very comfortable and worry free.
The purpose of a root canal
The general purpose of a root canal is to either save or repair a tooth that is damaged from deep decay, fillings that have gone bad, cracks and other trauma. These things can lead to infection that can cause you pain and need to be treated as soon as they are detected. That’s one way you can avoid having a root canal is with regular checkups and exams with your dentist.
To understand the root canal therapy, you need to understand what two parts of the tooth are effected – the pulp and the root canal itself. The root canal is the pathway located in the center of the tooth and houses the pulp or nerve. The pulp transports oxygen and nutrients to the root and the rest of the tooth.
When does a root canal become necessary
The root canal becomes necessary when the too contracts a very deep cavity, fracture or other trauma. This can allow harmful bacteria to gain access to the canals and infect the healthy pulp. If treatment is not begun right away, the infection will worsen and cause the pulp to die. This is what causes what is called an “abscess” which is an infection on the bone at the end of the root. These can become very painful and effect your ability to chew your food and cause other complications.
What is involved in root canal therapy
To treat this extremely painful and unhealthy outcome, we numb the patient’s tooth completely. The pulp and the nerve are removed and the interior of the tooth is completely cleaned out so we can re-seal the inside of the tooth where the problem exist. We then place a special filling into the roots and rebuild the tooth’s core. When complete, a temporary, tooth-colored crown is placed to seal the top of your tooth until the permanent one is created.
Your comfort
Your comfort during any procedure is always our priority. Here in our office, we offer sedation dentistry to help you be as relaxed as possible. We will explain your sedation options and help you choose the one that is right for you and your comfort level.
If you would like to speak with us about root canal therapy, then call our office to set up a consultation.
