Using Root Canal Treatment to Save a Tooth

Root canal treatment has a somewhat undeserved reputation for being unpleasant, but it is a very effective way of saving a badly infected tooth. If decay or damage has enabled bacteria to get into a tooth, then the root canals and pulp inside it will need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, before the tooth is permanently restored. Prompt treatment can help save a tooth from extraction, and it can often be used normally for many years afterwards. Modern root canal treatments mean this procedure is no worse than having a tooth filled.

How Does A Tooth Pulp Become Damaged?
The root canals and pulp of your tooth contain blood vessels and nerves that help keep the tooth healthy. If the outer part of the tooth becomes damaged in some way then bacteria can infect the inner part of the tooth, and eventually the nerves in the tooth will die. Unless the infection is removed, it will continue to destroy tissues in and around the tooth, often causing a painful abscess.

What Does Treatment Involve?
Treatment usually takes two or more visits to your endodontist in Shreveport. The first appointment will remove infected and damaged tissue in the tooth, using local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable. If necessary, antibiotics can be placed into the empty root canals to help kill off remaining bacteria and the area will be temporarily sealed, or you might be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Alternatively the tooth will be permanently sealed. Teeth that have had root canal therapy are generally restored with a crown that helps prevent further infection and which restores strength to the tooth.

What Can I expect After Treatment?
You might feel some minor discomfort after treatment, as it can stir up the infection in the tooth. However if you had severe toothache before treatment then you should feel much more comfortable once the infection has been removed by your root canal dentist in Shreveport. The tooth should soon settle down, and once permanently restored can be used normally. Your tooth doesn’t need the pulp to function, and once treated could last for many years or even for life.

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