While a number of adults experience permanent tooth loss with age, the truth of the matter is that most cases can be prevented by following a consistent preventive care routine. What’s more, a number of concerns such as cavities, toothaches, and more can be reversed and managed with proper in-office care. When these issues persist, however, sometimes it takes more extensive procedures to treat. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX dentist will take a look at the progression of decay and how a root canal may be used to treat it.
When Oral Bacteria Run Amuck
Whether you are aware of them or not, oral bacteria are present in every smile. The key to a healthy grin, however, is to ensure you are doing your part to prevent them from damaging your health and your oral structures with consistent care. They like to make their homes in the warm, moist, and hard-to-reach areas of the mouth where they can thrive unbothered. Here, they feed off of food particles and sugars you consume, allowing them to produce a harmful acid that aids in the deterioration of your natural tooth structure. If allowed to persist, this practice will continue and eventually form a soft spot that later opens up and becomes a hole known as a cavity.
Indeed, in its earliest stage, decay may reveal itself as a harmless cavity that can be treated simply with a composite resin dental filling. If it is not treated within a certain window, however, this restoration could fail as the harmful bacteria have begun to make their way towards the inner tooth, requiring a more extensive treatment to address.
Getting to the Root of the Issue
It should go without saying that the worse a condition gets, the more serious a procedure becomes as well. When decay has spread to the inner dental pulp and nerves of your teeth, you can expect to experience sharp pains and difficulty in function. To best remedy this situation at this stage, your doctor may perform a root canal procedure to rid your structure of the damaged tissues and infection itself. This process involves carefully but thoroughly removing the inner dental pulp that has been damaged, then filling the root canals with a dental material to prevent the hollow structure from further damage. The treatment is complete with a dental crown to ensure a healthy recovery, and you are all set!
Preserving Your Natural Teeth
When it comes to your smile, the last thing you – or your dentist – wants is for you to lose a structure. Indeed, we will do everything we can to attempt and save your natural teeth, but bear in mind that time does play a factor, so it is always best to seek help as soon as possible.
Find Out More
Contact Gentle Smiles Family Dentistry in Dallas, TX by calling 972-329-7645 to learn how a root canal procedure may help preserve your natural grin, or to schedule an appointment with our team today.
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