Our Glendale dentists recognize that the term “root canal” can strike fear in the hearts of many dental patients. However, we know from experience, that root canal therapy is actually an indispensable tool in the world of restorative dentistry. That is why, today, we are giving you some more information about root canal treatment: how it works and for whom it is appropriate. We hope that this information gives you a better idea of how root canal therapy can improve your dental health.
Let’s start by talking about when root canal therapy becomes necessary. Basically, once a tooth is severely damaged, down to the dental core, root canal therapy may be necessary. Infections and damage work their way through the dental enamel and the dentin, until they finally reach the dental pulp. As this is the most sensitive and vulnerable layer of the tooth, you’ll likely experience dental pain and sensitivity at this point.
During root canal therapy, our dentist removes the damaged dental enamel and dentin on the way to the dental core. Then, we remove all of the dental pulp, including the roots, which extend down into the patient’s jaw tissue. Essentially, our dentist is removing all of the compromised dental material in the tooth, as well as the living nerves and roots.
The final steps of root canal therapy involve our dentists filling the tooth with an inert material, so that the tooth is whole again. We will also apply a customized restoration in order to rebuild and replace the missing tooth structure. The result is a repaired tooth that looks attractive and functions optimally with the rest of the smile.
Root canal therapy has come a long way over the years; many of our patients report that the process is similar to having a standard filling or crown placed. In truth, timely root canal therapy can save a tooth that would otherwise fall out or need to be pulled. That is why our Glendale root canal dentists strongly encourage patients to reach out for restorative care as soon as they notice oral health problems.