A painful toothache is no joke. Root canal therapy in Natick relieves dental pain as it heals infection and spares a tooth from extraction. Your dentist in Natick, Dr. Christina Papageorgiou or Dr. Medha Singh, perform root canal treatments. Learn how the process works and what the alternatives are.
Few things hurt more than an injured or infected tooth. Swelling, drainage and sometimes even fever, accompany a dental abscess, deep decay or fractured fillings. While you may dread the idea of root canal therapy, this long-standing restorative treatment is highly successful, prevents tooth loss and relieves toothaches.
As a matter of fact, the American Association of Endodontists says that root canal therapy is highly successful to the tune of 15 million procedures annually across the US. It’s performed in the dental office under local anesthesia, removes the source of discomfort and infection and crowns the tooth for long-standing support and aesthetics.
Root Canal Treatment
There are alternatives to getting a root canal, but are they the best options in your particular situation? At Papageorgiou Dental Associates, the professional team evaluates people with injured, decayed and infected teeth, using visual examination and digital X-rays to determine the best course of treatment.
Just what happens during a root canal? Your dentist numbs the area around the affected tooth and places a protective dam as well.
She drills a small access hole into the root canal or interior pulp chamber. This chamber contains nerves, connective tissue, and a blood supply that help the tooth develop during adolescence. Fortunately, a tooth can function well without it, and during endodontic treatment, Dr. Papageorgiou or Dr. Singh removes it.
To do so, she uses a series of tiny metal files which also smooth the sides of the canal. After all the canals are debrided, the dentist instills antibiotics and seals the chambers with an elastic substance known as gutta-percha. After placement of a temporary crown or filling, the patient returns home to heal.
In a week or so, the individual comes back to the dental office where the doctor removes the temporary cap and places a permanent porcelain crown which is strong and natural-looking. Studies show that with good care at home and at the dentist’s office, a tooth restored with root canal therapy will last for decades.
Alternatives to Root Canal Treatment
Some patients elect tooth extraction to treat a seriously damaged tooth. While most dentists would prefer not to extract a tooth, sometimes it is the only viable option because the infection, decay or injury is so severe–for example, when a tooth is cracked below the gum line.
Other dentists use ozone gas to clear the infection out of the interior of the tooth. Calcium hydroxide also targets destructive bacteria and may be sufficient to heal mild infections.
Is Root Canal Therapy Right for You?
Please contact Papageorgiou Dental Associates if you are experiencing dental pain, gum swelling, drainage or other symptoms of a failing tooth. Your dental team will know the best way to treat it and to get you smiling and feeling good again.