If you have been skipping your regular dental
appointments because you think that everything is okay, think again.
The American Dental Association explains that
people who avoid the dentist until something happens could be in for a serious
wake up call. That small cavity you have could turn into something bigger
requiring root canal therapy and a dental crown.
You may not have a toothache, but you could
have tooth decay and not even know it. Your dentist is the only person who can
identify the problems as soon as they occur saving you both time and money.
If you left it too late and do need root
canal therapy it is obvious that the tooth is infected or badly decayed. The
procedure involves removing the diseased or dead tooth pulp, which is located
inside your tooth. The pulp is actually nerves, tissue and blood vessels that
can die if you have a cavity.
During your root canal, your dentist will
remove the pulp before cleaning the roots of the tooth. Once cleaned, your
dentist will seal the tooth before placing a dental crown to protect the
repaired tooth.
Although root canals have the reputation of
being quite painful, most patients will tell you that the real pain occurred before
the dental appointment.
So what is Pulp?
The pulp chamber is located inside your
tooth. The nerves in your teeth are within the legs or roots of your tooth. The
root canal travels from the bottom of your tooth’s root into your pulp chamber that
also contains connective tissue and blood vessels that nourish your tooth.
Your dentist explains that the nerve in a
tooth is not that important when it comes to the function and health of your
tooth once it has erupted through your gums. The absence or presence of the
nerve does not affect function.
Why take it out?
If the pulp or nerve tissue has been damaged,
bacteria will start breaking it down. Decay and bacteria will eventually cause
an abscessed tooth or an infection, which will require root canal therapy.
You don’t have to resort to root canal
therapy if you schedule regular appointments with your dentist. Preventive care
can help you prevent unnecessary dental procedures. Call or click and schedule
an appointment with your dentist today.
