Endodontics: Saving a Damaged Tooth

Your pearly whites can withstand virtually anything. They are made from the hardest substance in the body, enamel. However, this doesn’t make them indestructible. Poor oral hygiene and accidents can damage your tooth.

Over the past few decades, people dreaded visiting the dentist because there was only one way to deal with damaged or decayed teeth—extractions. However, those days are long gone. With the dental technology that is currently available, we can perform endodontics painlessly. Tooth decay shouldn’t be the reason as to why you lose your tooth when our dentist near you offers endodontics in Edgartown, MA.

Due to misinformation, most people have been afraid of root canals in Martha’s Vineyard. People often think that it’s horrifying or painful, but on the contrary, it is done to alleviate the pain caused by infection.

Without further ado, let’s see what endodontics in Edgartown entails.

Endodontics Basics

Due to fear, people have come up with all sorts of myths such as:

• Extractions are better than receiving root canal therapy
• Endodontic treatment is excruciating
• The benefits are temporary

All of the above isn’t even close to the truth. At the heart of root canal therapy is salvaging a damaged or decayed tooth. Nothing beats having your natural teeth.

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with treating the softer inner part of your tooth. The enamel plays a protective role in keeping the inside part of the tooth free from bacteria and germs. However, due to poor oral hygiene or trauma, the structural integrity of the enamel becomes compromised.

The dental pulp (softer inner part of the tooth) becomes exposed to inflammation or infection. Root canal therapy or endodontics aims to treat issues that affect healthy dental pulp. In other words, if the dental pulp is inflamed or infected, it is removed, and the tooth is saved. Endodontic treatment is not painful since anesthesia is used before the procedure commences.

Is It Essential to Remove the Dental Pulp?

The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, and lymphatic tissue. When there is an infection, the pulp breaks down and makes it easy for bacteria to thrive. If bacteria accumulate in the pulp chamber, it can lead to an abscess. This is a severe infection that spreads past the roots.

The following can occur:

• Facial swelling that extends to the neck and face
• A loss of bone that supports the tooth
• Drainage of the abscess through holes on the side of the tooth to the gums or, at times, through the cheek into your skin

Signs That You Need Endodontic Treatment

A root canal will be necessary if you experience the following symptoms:

• Cracked teeth
• Severe pain when chewing or biting
• Continuous sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
• Tender gums
• Pimples on the gums

What Steps Are Taken During Endodontic Treatment?

Typically, endodontic treatment can take between one to three visits. The following steps are taken during the procedure:

• Removing the Infected Pulp

Our dentist near you will examine your tooth and take X-rays of your roots. This will help to ascertain the extent of the damage. Then, the area will be numbed using local anesthesia so that you feel no pain during the procedure. Our dentist near you will drill your tooth to gain access to your pulp. Then the pulp, bacteria, and the decayed debris will be removed.

• Preparing the Root Canal

After the debris and the infected pulp are removed, our dentist will thoroughly clean the root canal. Then the area will be shaped, and a rubber-like substance will be used to seal the space.

• Placing the Crown

When there is no pulp, the tooth becomes weak and can break since it is not nourished. This is why a filling is not an appropriate treatment at this stage. On the other hand, a crown will protect the tooth from further damage. It reinforces the tooth.

The beauty of endodontic treatments is that the infected part is removed, and the tooth remains intact. For endodontic treatment in Edgartown, MA, contact our dentist at Edgartown Dental Group.