The importance of endodontic treatment to restore natural teeth

Root canal therapy is a specialized procedure that is often used to save a tooth from extraction. It can be performed on teeth with abscesses, infection, or even large cavities. The treatment has gotten a bad rap due to incorrect information being spread. The procedure is not painful as many patients are led to believe. Instead, it alleviates severe toothaches that might bring a patient into their dental office for care. Root canal treatment removes the inner portion of the tooth to eliminate the infection and save the tooth’s structure.

What is root canal therapy?

Dr. Spalding Green and his team at Spalding Green Dental Health in Nashville, Tennessee, describes root canal therapy, or root canal treatment, as an endodontic procedure performed to save a tooth from permanent extraction. During the procedure, the dentist accesses the inner canals of the tooth to remove the dental pulp, a mass of tissues that hold the blood supply and nerves. Once removed, the tooth’s canals are thoroughly disinfected, and the area is closed using gutta-percha and composite resin materials. The dentist may often recommend a dental crown over the tooth as an extra layer of protection.

What are the options to root canal therapy?

Many patients ask if a decayed tooth can be saved. When significant cavities exist, root canal treatment may be a viable option for an individual. If the damage is too extensive and substantially affects the tooth’s structure, patients may still need to have a tooth permanently extracted. There is no alternative to root canal therapy outside of dental extraction. However, saving a tooth with root canal therapy is a more desirable option whenever possible.

Do I need root canal therapy?

During an assessment of the patient, Dr. Spalding Green will help patients determine if they can benefit from root canal therapy to avoid the extraction of a natural tooth. The best way to find out is to book a consultation appointment with his team at his practice, conveniently located at 2000 Richard Jones Road, Suite #166 in Nashville, TN. Call (615) 383-8213 to request an appointment and learn more about this and other dental restoration options for your smile.