As is the case for many medical procedures, there are numerous misconceptions about root canal treatment. This common and commonly maligned procedure yields excellent results when called for. Unfortunately, many people actively avoid needed dental treatment for fear of having a root canal. This lack of professional care often leads to a host of additional and sometimes even larger problems. It’s critical that you receive proper mouthcare, so let’s take the “fear of the unknown” angle away with some facts. Then, you can make your dental care decisions from a point of knowledge, which is always a very good thing.
Get the “terms” right
Imagine if you thought “table” meant a piece of furniture you sit on, your behavior might appear super weird during dinner. You, on the other hand, would be wondering why everyone else was doing the wrong thing. As you see, when we associate words the wrong meaning it, it can have a clear real world impact. Therefore, we should understand the basic terms related to root canal treatment — which, as you’ll see, right off the bat below, is a good place to start our discussion.
A “root canal” is not a treatment, but part of a tooth. It is the hollow section of a tooth that contains the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells, also known as the pulp.
A tooth consists of a crown and roots. The crown is mainly above the gum, while the roots are below it. The roots attach the tooth to the jawbone.
Inside the crown and the root, or the root canal, is the pulp. The pulp nourishes the tooth and provides moisture to the surrounding material. The nerves in the pulp sense hot and cold temperatures as pain.
The name of the dental procedure commonly referred to as a “root canal” is actually endodontic therapy, which means “inside the tooth.”
However, the term “root canal” has come to be commonly used to talk about the procedure. Read more at Medical News Today
Get the “procedure” right
What have you heard about the root canal procedure? That it’s horrible and you should avoid it? That’s the prevailing belief, sadly. It seems we would serve you well to present a snapshot of how the treatment goes. Here are the basics in easy-to-understand language:
A Route to the Root
The dentist numbs the tooth. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth to the pulp chamber.
Removing the Infected/Inflamed Tissue
Special files are used to clean the infection and unhealthy pulp out of the canals. Then they shape the canals for the filling material. Irrigation is used to help clean the canals and remove debris.
Filling the Canals
The canals are filled with a permanent material. Typically, this is done with a material known as gutta-percha. This helps to keep the canals free of infection or contamination.
Rebuilding the Tooth
A temporary filling material is placed on top of the gutta-percha to seal the opening. The filling remains until the tooth receives a permanent filling or a crown. A crown, sometimes called a cap, looks like a natural tooth. It is placed over the top of the tooth…Read more at Colgate
Get the “value” right
If you’re the analytical ROI type, perhaps you’re wondering now whether the procedure makes financial sense. How long will you enjoy the benefits? What can you do to ensure that you get the best, longest-lasting results? Read the informative post below for these answers and more.
The success rate of endodontic treatment is very high. This is something we see firsthand with our practice’s patients, and scientific research backs up our observations. One of the most detailed studies on the subject examined the long-term effectiveness of 487,476 root canal treatments. According to this report, 98 percent of root canals last one year, 92 percent last five years, and 86 percent last ten years or longer…
These figures are helpful in giving patients a general understanding of how long root canals last and why they’re a procedure worth considering, but it’s important to understand how your specific circumstances can affect the treatment’s longevity. Read more at NSBENDO
The science is clear, for the best results, you need to seek treatment as early as possible — before the affected tooth deteriorates to an unsavable state.
You can save all the valuable time you would have spent searching for a great dentist to handle your root canal procedure in Davenport, IA by contacting Dague Dental Solutions. You can trust that you will receive the very best dental care from Dr. Jolene Dague. Call our office at (563) 386-9770 or reach us through the contact form on our website to schedule an appointment.