Tooth canal treatment, also known as tooth root canal surgery, is a dental procedure that can help save a tooth that has become infected or decayed. This treatment has many benefits and advantages for patients who require it.
- Relieves pain and discomfort.
One of the main benefits of tooth canal treatment is that it alleviates pain and discomfort caused by tooth decay or infection. When the inner pulp tissue of the tooth becomes inflamed or infected, it can cause severe throbbing pain. Undergoing root canal treatment removes this infected pulp and cleans out the inside of the tooth, effectively eliminating the source of irritation. Patients report an immediate sense of relief after the procedure is completed and the tooth is no longer sensitive. This benefit alone makes root canal treatment an attractive option for those living with chronic dental pain.
- Saves the tooth structure
Extracting an infected tooth that requires root canal treatment will result in the loss of that tooth. However, undergoing tooth canal surgery allows the original tooth to be saved and restored. The tooth structure remains intact, which is important for chewing and preventing the shifting of remaining teeth. In the past, severely decayed or abscessed teeth would simply be pulled. But with modern endodontic treatment, even severely compromised teeth can often be rescued rather than removed. This maintains the integrity of the bite and smile.
- Avoids major surgery
Extracting a tooth requires creating a surgical flap, removing bone tissue, and stitching gum tissue back together. It results in pain, swelling, and recovery time. Endodontic therapy is performed right through the crown of the tooth, avoiding invasive surgery and enabling patients to continue going about their normal activities after the procedure. The lack of discomfort, medication, and recuperation time makes tooth root canals an easier fix than extraction and dental implants.
- Restores Tooth Function
After root canal treatment, patients enjoy a restoration of normal tooth function. Once the inside of the tooth has been cleaned, disinfected, and sealed, a crown is placed over the tooth to protect and strengthen it. The tooth can then be used for chewing and biting as normal. Patients can speak, sing, eat, and smile with confidence again after the tooth has been stabilized and restored by a dentist. The alternative of missing the tooth can cause significant problems with talking, eating, and self-esteem.
- Maintains facial structure
Extracting a tooth allows the surrounding teeth to start shifting and moving into the empty space. This can alter the alignment of the bite and affect facial symmetry. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant may prevent this, but it still requires surgery and the placement of a metal post in the jawbone. Saving and restoring a natural tooth through root canal therapy helps maintain the facial structure in its original form without any changes. This benefit is especially important for patients who are missing multiple teeth and want to avoid significant impacts on their facial profile.
- Protects healthy teeth
After a tooth has been extracted, the nearby teeth may start to shift or drift over time. This can lead to new dental problems. Retaining a natural tooth with root canal treatment prevents this undesirable shifting and movement. It also prevents the need for adjacent virgin teeth to be ground down during the placement of a bridge. Endodontic therapy supports the long-term health and stability of the surrounding teeth, which may need to last the patient a lifetime.
- Limits Risks
While a small percentage of root canal treatments fail and become reinfected, the success rate exceeds 90%. This makes tooth root canal surgery a reasonably safe and low-risk procedure when done properly. On the other hand, tooth extractions carry risks of excessive bleeding, jaw fracture, sinus involvement, and nerve disturbances, none of which are a concern with endodontic therapy. The controlled dental environment, use of local anesthesia, and minimally invasive approach limit risks and complications for the vast majority of patients.
- Single Visit
In many cases, a root canal procedure can be completed in just one visit to the dentist. After any decay is removed and access to the pulp chamber is gained, the infected or inflamed tissue can be immediately removed. The disinfecting and sealing of the tooth may be accomplished at the same appointment. Temporary and permanent tooth restorations can be added at subsequent visits. For patients with busy schedules, the single-visit aspect makes this dental treatment highly convenient.
- High Success Rate
Root canal therapy has an impressive track record of success when performed by an experienced endodontist. The procedure has a 95% success rate for front teeth and 85% for back molars that have multiple canals. When this nonsurgical treatment is not successful, an endodontic microsurgeon can still attempt to save the tooth with a procedure called an apicoectomy. Even if a conventional root canal fails, teeth can often still be rescued with advanced surgical techniques.
- Saves Money
Although tooth canal treatment has a cost, it is significantly less expensive than tooth extraction followed by bridge placement or dental implants. Saving the natural tooth is a cost-effective approach that also has the best long-term prognosis. While dental insurance may cover up to 70% of the cost of root canal therapy, having the treatment performed at an endodontic specialty office such as Puranik’s Dental Care can help contain costs as well. Preserving your natural smile in a budget-friendly manner is one of the advantages of dental root canal surgery.
In conclusion, root canal therapy offers many advantages for patients who require treatment for a compromised tooth. It relieves pain, saves tooth structure, avoids major surgery, restores function, maintains the facial profile, protects healthy adjacent teeth, limits risks and complications, can often be done in one visit, has a high success rate, is cost-effective, and enables long-term tooth survival. With the microsurgical techniques available today, even teeth that may have been deemed non-salvageable in the past can now be saved with endodontic treatment. By opting for tooth canal surgery, patients can preserve their natural smile for many years to come.
