Root Canal Patients visiting our dental office at The OC Smiles Family Dental are surprised when they hear that they have to get a root canal treatment procedure. Tooth damages occur in different forms and require different types of treatment. Often, a root canal is called for if the pulp within the inner part of a tooth is damaged, inflamed, injured, or infected. The pulp tissue found in the root can be badly infected or inflamed, meaning that our dentist has to evaluate you for possible root canal therapy. Common signs of root canal treatment include a change of color within the tooth crown, sharp toothaches when you put pressure on the tooth, swelling around the gums close to the tooth, and sensitivity.What Causes Damage to Tooth Pulp?A damaged pulp may be due to tooth decay, severe face injuries, undergoing several invasive dental procedures, and tooth fillings. Tooth decay is the leading culprit to pulp damage needing root canal therapy. Untreated cavities can lead to decay. When you cannot stop bacteria from attacking the areas around the tooth, they will release acids as they feed, which in turn, wash away the enamel, causing cavities. Bacteria will get their way into the pulp through the deepened cavities. Pulp damage may also occur due to intense facial injuries. These injuries lead to trauma. Boxers, for example, may deal with persistent trauma, if they fail to wear mouthguards during their matches. Due to the impact of punches, the teeth may crack or slightly move out of place. As such the internal tissue may be exposed to bacteria. Exposure to bacteria due to trauma may not easily be noticed until you develop serious symptoms involving pulp damage. Consider wearing a mouthguard to prevent such injuries. Multiple invasive dental procedures can risk exposing the pulp to bacteria. Tooth filling and dental abscess removal being performed by a dentist can lead to bacterial infection when safety precautions are overlooked. Moreover, having a filling that covers a wide area can expose the pulp to damage. An improperly fitted filling may also risk the pulp getting infected. Root Canal Therapy ProcedureThe procedure for root canal treatment involves accessing the root to clean out the decayed or damaged pulp. Our dentist makes small cuts through the crowns to reach the pulp chambers. Once the affected pulp has been removed, the dentist cleanses the space to prep it for filling. Using a rubber-like material, we fill the hole and cement it properly with a special adhesive. Sealing the filling completely is crucial to ensure no debris or bacteria can gain entry into the pulp. We book you for a later appointment where you get a crown installed. Meanwhile, you may fit a short-term crown to provide protection to the tooth. What to ExpectRoot canal therapy is not painful as many people think. It feels like a routine filling process. With our modern dental technology and anesthesia, our dental team is able to ensure great comfort when performing root canal treatment. Visit our team at The OC Smiles Family Dental to find out more about root canals and why they are performed. Give us a call at (971) 447-0093 to set up your appointment. |
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