Endodontics - Root canal treatment
ENDODONTICS
About Root Canal Treatment:
Usually, root canals are recommended or needed when there is an infection deep within the tooth. The pulp inside the tooth can become infected with bacteria because of an injury or due to a severe, untreated cavity.
Without treatment, the infection may progress to cause significant pain or cause the formation of an abscess underneath the tooth, which affects the strength and function of the tooth.
Root canal treatment can help to maintain the function of the teeth so that patients may continue to chew effectively using normal biting force. It also helps to maintain the natural aesthetic appearance of the tooth, in contrast to alternative options, such as dental implants.
Additionally, root canal treatment can help to protect other teeth from excessive strain and possible damage, as strain may occur if only one side of the mouth is used.
What are the benefits of Root Canal Treatment over Extraction?
If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can eventually cause pain, swelling and loss of the supporting bone. Root canal treatment saves teeth that would otherwise have been extracted.
While extraction may be a quicker and cheaper option, it often leads to subsequent problems.
Imagine your teeth as books neatly arranged on a bookshelf, taking one out will result in the drifting or tilting of surrounding teeth into the empty space, destabilizing the whole dental arch, neighbouring teeth and occlusion of the individual.
Suppose in the dentist’s opinion, the tooth is a strategic and useful one. In that case, it certainly is worth the time and expense required for root canal treatment to save that tooth.