Root Canal Treatment
A root canal procedure will be necessary when a person has a badly damaged or infected area on the inside of one or more teeth. A small hole is created in the tooth during a root canal treatment, which allows Dr. Crosby to clean the damaged or infected canals on the inside of the tooth or teeth. The benefit of a root canal is that you get to keep your natural teeth instead of having the tooth extracted and replaced with a dental implant.
Contrary to popular belief, with modern dental anesthetics, root canal treatment is a not painful. You may have heard your parents or grandparents make references to the pain of a root canal, but with so many advances in technique and technology, root canal therapy is no more painful or scary than any other dental procedure.
Root Canal in a Nutshell
Within the root of your teeth, you have a substance called the pulp. The pulp is a tissue that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. During growth, our teeth need pulp to develop, however, an adult tooth can survive without the pulp.
When bacteria break through your enamel, it then infects and inflames the internal pulp; this is what results in the pain you feel when you need root canal treatment. When Dr. Crosby performs a root canal, he drills into the root of your tooth to remove all infected pulp and bacteria, saving the natural tooth.
Who May Need Endodontic Treatment?
There are many reasons why Anchorage general dentist, Dr. Richard Crosby, may perform a root canal treatment. Endodontic therapy may be indicated when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. Other problems that may require endodontic surgery include:
- Advanced tooth decay
- Traumatized or weakened teeth from numerous dental procedures
- Faulty dental crowns
- Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
Also, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. Dr. Crosby will use advanced dental technology to discover any existing pulp inflammation or infection. If left untreated, these issues can lead to major problems in the future that may require much more than simple endodontic therapy.
Benefits of Root Canals in Anchorage
A root canal treatment is an effective way to save your natural tooth after a severe infection. Depending on your level of decay, root canals might be the only option to save your tooth. Saving your natural tooth offers benefits over a tooth extraction, including the following:
- You will experience more natural chewing and biting
- Endodontics is a cost-effective process compared to tooth replacements
- The process is almost painless
- Your tooth or teeth will look beautiful following root canal therapy
Endodontic Candidacy
If you experience intense pain in one or multiple teeth, you might need a root canal. You should see Anchorage dentist, Dr. Crosby, immediately if you experience any toothaches or oral pain. When you wait for the pain to become unbearable, you might need tooth extraction instead of keeping your natural teeth. Root canals is not the same scary experience of decades ago. Why wait any longer to have this simple procedure done to save your tooth?
Learn More About Endodontics in Anchorage Today
Please call Dr. Richard Crosby General & Cosmetic Dentistry at (907) 277-1098 to schedule an evaluation to see if you need root canals. You may also fill out our online contact form to ask questions or schedule an appointment.