If your dentist tells you that you need root canal treatment, then you may not immediately think that it’s something to celebrate. After all, the goal of continuous hygiene and dental care is supposed to be to help you avoid serious dental issues and the need for extensive treatment to address them. However, if your dentist recommends it, then root canal treatment may be the best way to help avoid even more serious dental health issues, and in extreme cases, the risks of tooth loss.
The Seriousness of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a progressive infection in your tooth structure that leads to cavity development (or holes in your teeth). In many cases, it’s one of the most preventable dental diseases. Yet, it still affects a majority of people at some point in their lives. For many of them, decay is addressed early, when cleaning and filling the cavity is enough to restore the tooth. For others, however, decay can enter the sensitive pulp chamber of the tooth, which is connected to the tooth’s root canal that extends into the jawbone.
What Root Canal Treatment Means
Like a tooth filling, treating severe tooth decay also involves removing harmful oral bacteria and tooth structure and restoring the tooth’s health and integrity. However, root canal treatment is a more delicate procedure that involves accessing the pulp chamber and root canal of your tooth. By removing the infection in time, your dentist can still save and restore your tooth to preserve your oral health without needing tooth extraction.
See if a root canal is needed
Depending on the specific circumstances of your tooth’s trouble, root canal treatment may be the best idea for preserving your smile. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Lake Forest Dental Arts in Lake Forest, IL, at 847-234-0517. We also proudly serve residents of Chicago and all surrounding communities in the Chicago Metro area.