Root Canal Pros & Cons

What are root canal pros & cons? When you visit an endodontist for tooth decay, they recommend a root canal procedure. This procedure helps treat other dental problems as well. However, you need to go through the advantages and disadvantages of getting this endodontic procedure. Having complete information about the procedure will help you make an informed decision. This article will provide basic information about a root canal. You can contact Bryant Park Endodontics for further information about the procedure.

What is a Root Canal?

Root canals are common endodontic treatments. These types of procedures treat internal problems of a tooth. A root canal is an effective treatment to remove a bacterial infection from the tooth pulp, the innermost section of a tooth.

The outermost protective layer of the tooth is enamel. This layer contains minerals and calcium, making it the strongest hardest part of the body. Another hard layer exists inside the enamel. This layer is dentin, and it includes tiny holes. Inside the dentin is soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. The innermost layer is tooth pulp or pulp. The tooth pulp provides nourishment to the tooth during the development process.

Root Canal Pros & Cons

But when you consume starchy food, it sticks to your tooth. The food on your enamel attracts bacteria from your saliva. The bacteria feed on the food and increase the pH level of your mouth by producing acid. When this happens, your tooth grows weak and develops a cavity or hole. A hole in the enamel indicates that bacteria can cause damage to the dentin. Because dentin contains tiny pores that reach the nerves, you feel sensitivity while drinking hot and cold water. When decay reaches the tooth pulp, you end up developing a bacterial infection. If you leave this tooth untreated, it can result in tooth loss.

Why Should You Get Root Canal?

When the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected or inflamed, you will feel sensitivity. When the inflammation of the pulp and tissues puts pressure on the nerves, you experience severe pain. There are two common solutions to solve this dental issue. The first solution is a root canal, and the other is tooth extraction. If you want to protect your tooth, a root canal procedure would be the best option. Here are some reasons an endodontist may recommend a root canal:

Tooth decay
Faulty crown
Chip and crack of the tooth
Repeated dental procedure on the tooth

An endodontist will revive your natural smile after performing a root canal. Once you are done with the treatment, you can eat whatever you want to. Many people have concerns about the pain during and after the procedure. While performing a root canal procedure, the endodontist will inject local anesthesia to numb the infected area. Therefore, you won’t feel any pain until the effects of anesthesia wear off. After the treatment, you can consume over-the-counter medications for pain relief. The root canal treatment will last a lifetime.

When you develop an infected or damaged tooth, you can choose between tooth extraction and root canal treatment. Here are some pros and cons for a root canal, so you can make a better decision:

1. Pro – Protect Your Natural Tooth

You can choose a root canal over tooth extraction if you want to keep your natural tooth. An endodontist will clean the tooth canal by removing the infected pulp, fill it with synthetic material, and cover the tooth with a dental crown. That way, you do not have to worry about losing your tooth or bone loss.

2. Con – Tooth May Become Weak

When an endodontist opens the tooth, they use a dental drill. Although the dental drill is safe to use, and unprofessional dentist may cause additional problems. This is a rare condition and you can prevent this from happening by consulting a professional and experienced endodontist. Furthermore, a professional endodontist will place a dental crown over the tooth to maintain its strength.

Root Canal Pros & Cons | Best Dentist

3. Pro – Prevent Toothache

An inflamed or infected tooth can cause severe pain, which disrupts your daily activities. People with toothache may not be able to go to work or even enjoy a TV show. You can reduce the pain by getting a root canal. In a root canal procedure, endodontists remove the infected pulp and replace it with synthetic material. When they remove the infection, you won’t feel pain.

4. Con – May Need Multiple Appointments

A root canal is a procedure that only requires one visit. After the procedure, you only have to consume pain relievers to reduce the pain. However, in some cases, especially in complicated cases, root canal procedures may take two to five visits for complete relief.

5. Pro – Proper Tooth Alignment

Tooth extraction leaves a gap between your teeth. This will cause alignment issues, and you may feel difficulty while eating. However, in the root canal, the dentist will not extract the tooth. In fact, they will replace the material inside the tooth and seal it from the top.