Just hearing the term “root canal” can send some into a mild state of anxiety. This procedure has been associated with pain and fear. Some are so apprehensive about this treatment that they avoid visiting the dentist altogether. The irony of this is that avoiding dental care is precisely what can lead to root canal infection. Rest assured, in our Los Angeles, CA dental practice, root canal therapy is nothing to fear.
Root canal therapy is a restorative treatment that becomes necessary when the inner area of a tooth has become infected. Typically, infection begins as a cavity. Untreated, cavities become the ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which continually emit acid waste, progressively damaging the affected tooth until finally reaching the inner pulp chamber. Within the root canal is pulp, as well as nerve of the tooth. As infection spreads, its close proximity to the nerve results in strong pain signals. At this point, the only way to eliminate pain is to treat the infection.
To be clear, root canal therapy is not the cause of pain. The toothache experienced comes from infection, and root canal therapy must be performed to save the tooth and stop the pain.
Some believe that it is better to remove an infected tooth rather than undergo root canal therapy to eliminate infection. The problem with extraction, or the natural loss of an infected tooth, is that you then are faced with the prospect of tooth replacement with a dental bridge or dental implant. Simply removing or letting a tooth be lost to infection, and not replacing it, leads the way to further dental problems, both cosmetic and health-related.
Leaving a gap after a tooth has been lost or removed gives oral bacteria prime breeding grounds. The oral cavity is designed to hold a certain number of teeth. In the absence of this natural set-up, an alternative must be found to protect adequate bite, hygiene, and aesthetics.
Root canal therapy is a beneficial procedure for oral health. Undergoing this procedure need not cause stress. Most people who go through root canal therapy report it as being boring. For this, as well as any anxiety over treatment, we offer sedation.
Infection within the root canal is something we can help you avoid with regular dental care. Should the need arise for root canal therapy; you are in good hands with Dr. Mungcal. Contact us for your dental examination today.
