Many people worry when they’re told that they need root canal treatment, especially if they’ve never undergone the procedure. If they’ve heard exaggerated stories about root canals from friends and family, then that apprehension can be even worse. The truth, though, is that root canal treatment isn’t nearly as complicated as many people believe. In fact, one of the most important things to know about root canal treatment is that it is not only minimally-invasive, but it can also help you avoid more serious complications, such as tooth loss.
Root canal treatment is kind of like an advanced filling.
The point of root canal treatment is to remove infection (or tooth decay) from the inside chamber of your tooth, called the pulp. The procedure prevents infectious oral bacteria from spreading through the tooth’s root canal, which is connected to the pulp chamber. Like a tooth filling, root canal treatment involves carefully removing infected tooth structure and tissues to stop the decay from spreading further.
Root canal treatment alleviates severe tooth pain.
When a tooth is internally infected, that means the tooth’s nerves (housed within the pulp) are directly affected, which leads to intense tooth pain. The longer you wait to treat the tooth, the more intense the discomfort will become. With root canal treatment, however, your dentist can remove the cause of your tooth pain and restore the tooth so you can bite and chew comfortably again.
Root canal treatment can prevent tooth extraction.
In severe cases of tooth decay, restoring the tooth may not be an option. Therefore, your dentist may recommend extracting and replacing the tooth to avoid further complications. If you seek treatment immediately for your infected tooth, then root canal treatment may be able to save it before extraction becomes necessary.
CONTACT YOUR ASTORIA, NY, DENTIST TODAY:
Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, a native New Yorker, has welcomed patients and families from in and around Astoria, NY(including Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and all surrounding communities) since opening his dental practice in 1991. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Leibowitz, call our office in Astoria today at 718-728-8320.
