5-Facts You Should Know About Root Canal Treatment
Root canals often have a bad rap due to being associated with pain. This treatment, however, can save your teeth. If you’re experiencing tooth pain due to an infection and live in Crofton, MD, or the surrounding areas, schedule a visit to Bingham-Lester Dentistry to see if you need root canal treatment.
Here are five essential facts you should know about root canal procedures:
Root Canals Aren’t Painful – A root canal is a dental procedure designed to treat severe tooth infection that has damaged the pulp (soft tissue) inside your tooth. Although the condition is painful as the pulp comprises nerves and blood vessels, the treatment shouldn’t be. Dr. Bingham-Lester will numb your tooth and surrounding gum area with a local anesthetic for pain-free root canal treatment.
Antibiotics Won’t Replace Root Canal Treatment – Antibiotics may work great on bacterial infections, which can be reached through your bloodstream. Still, they aren’t effective in treating tooth pulp infections as the medicine cannot penetrate your root canal system where the infection is located.
Root Canal Teeth aren’t Immune to Disease – Just because you had a root canal doesn’t mean your tooth has immunity to disease. It would help if you continued to care for your tooth, brushing, flossing, and getting routine dental cleanings to ensure your tooth stays healthy and robust long term.
Temporary Pain Loss Doesn’t Mean You’re Healed – Pain is a clear indicator that something is wrong with your teeth. Once the infection has destroyed the pulp of your tooth, this pain may subside, giving the impression that you’re healed. In reality, however, the infection is still spreading. At the first sign of pain, see your dentist for a diagnosis and treatment.
Root Canals Can Save Your Teeth – A root canal is a primary treatment for pulp infection other than extracting your tooth. Lost teeth can affect your bite and the quality of your smile, which is why extraction should be the last option for treatment.
To learn more about root canal treatment, contact Dr. Bingham-Lester, your root canal specialist. Contact Bingham-Lester Dentistry at 410-885-6522 if you live in Crofton, MD, or its surrounding areas at your earliest convenience.