Myths Surrounding Root Canal Treatment
Root canals therapy, also known as endodontic therapy, is a dental procedure performed to get rid of the infection from the inside of a tooth. It involves removing clearing out all the soft tissues in the pulp of a tooth to help relieve pain associated with infection and prevent the tooth from future infections. To better understand this, you first have to know how the tooth structure looks like.
The tooth consists of the crown, which is visible above the gums, and the roots are usually hidden below the gum line and attach to the jawbone. Inside the center of the tooth is the hollow part that forms the root canal, filled with pulp. Tooth pulp consists of the nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissues and usually extends into the surrounding bone. A tooth may have more than one root canal, but every tooth must have at least one.
When is Root Canal Therapy Needed?
Root canal treatment in Ellicott City, MD, is necessary if it has been determined that the pulp is infected or inflamed. The cause of the infection could be anything from a deep decay to having a large filling or a tooth injury. The treatment’s goal is to relieve the patient from the pain associated with the infection while saving the tooth.
Myths About Root Canal Therapy
A survey carried out by the American Association of Endodontists shows that most people fear the root canals of all dental procedures the most. The saddest thing is that all the fear and anxiety is founded on false or incorrect information about the procedure. Some of the things about endodontic therapy that dentists in Ellicott City, MD, consider myths include:
- It Is Very Painful
Dentistry has evolved over the years, and today the technology is better, and so are the sedation options. The procedure is performed under anesthesia, and therefore you will not feel any pain as it is being done. You might only experience a little discomfort after a tugging feeling when the canal is being cleaned out. So, while an infected root canal in itself is painful, the therapy does not add any more pain to what you are already feeling. It relieves you from the pain you were in. For the discomfort experienced after the treatment, your dentist may prescribe some pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- It Causes Other Illnesses
This myth is supported by out of date science that was propelled in the 1920s by a dentist who was at the time short of medical resources to run proper research. There is also the thought that the procedure introduces more bacteria into the mouth, which is, by far, not true. Simultaneously, the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth can trigger other secondary illnesses like arthritis and heart disease. Root canal therapy reduces the number of bacteria lingering in your mouth by removing the extracted pulp. A successful root canal treatment prevents the bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body like the neck or head and prevents tooth loss and associated complications like bone loss.
- Pulling Out the Tooth Is A Better Option
At Excel Dental Care in Ellicott City, MD, dentists acknowledge that nothing matches the strength and quality of your natural teeth. Therefore a lot of effort is put to ensure a tooth is only removed when it is the only viable option. Also, keep in mind that extracting a tooth requires to follow up with a restorative treatment such as implants or dentures. Failing to replace an extracted tooth again puts you at risk of other dental complications like bone loss or teeth shifting.
Your search in Ellicott City for a dentist near you ends at Excel Dental Care. The clinic serves the following surrounding areas: Woodstock, Catonsville, Columbia, Elkridge, Centennial Park, Baltimore National Pike, West Friendship, and Marriottsville. We provide quality and painless root canal near you and take the time to properly educate patients so that they can make informed decisions about their dental health.