Why do we have root canal treatments? It is often used to stop further damage on a decaying tooth without removing the tooth itself. Instead, the decaying parts are taken out, so you can have the still healthy parts with you.
One of the major reasons for getting a root canal is infection in the tooth’s pulp. The pulp is the inner core of the tooth. It is softer than the outer layers and holds your tooth’s blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues.
The pulp becomes endangered when bacteria enter it. They can enter in if your tooth breaks or if a cavity reaches the pulp, basically if the pulp ever gets exposed to infection.
As the bacteria kill the pulp, they can also cause an abscess. An abscess is a buildup of pus near the teeth roots. Abscesses can lead to further infection in the gums, teeth, and jawbone. They can lose you that tooth or even cause bone loss in the jaw.
A root canal treatment is used to remove these damaged areas in the pulp. The remainder is filled in to defend against further infection. This saves the rest of your tooth and avoids having to remove it totally.
Beforehand, teeth with dead or dying pulp had to be pulled out. With root canals, you do not have to do this. You can only have the dead parts taken out and keep what you have.
We hope this has helped you understand how root canals can help and be beneficial to you, though we recommend you hold to good oral hygiene so you have a better chance of keeping all your teeth in good shape.
If you ever have need of assistance to care for your teeth, come see Dr. Khashayar Khomejany, our dentist. You can locate them at Plaza Dental Care in Vallejo, California. You can set things up with us by calling 707-642-1360.