Keeping your natural teeth healthy and firmly in place is one of the biggest goals of modern dentistry. Unfortunately, there are certain things that can cause your tooth to need to undergo various procedures in order to help restore it to full health. Understanding if the decay is reversible is the first step. Teeth that are very infected, for example, might need to undergo something known as a root canal, or they could end up being pulled from your mouth in order to prevent the infection from spreading. Root canal therapy is a rather in depth procedure that is often used as one of the last resorts to help heal your tooth and extend its life.

What is root canal therapy?

When your tooth's nerve has been affected by an infection or decay, you might need to have root canal therapy. This is a procedure where the living tissue that is inside of your tooth, also known as the pulp of the tooth, as well as bacteria, nerves, and decay are taken out of your tooth in order to stop the spread of infection and decay. The empty space that remains after all of this is taken out is filled with a special kind of medicated dental material which is designed to restore your tooth's functionality and keep it healthy for longer.

Don't be anxious about needing a root canal therapy. They are not as scary as they once were.

Isn't it better to remove "problem" teeth?

If you think that you should just remove any teeth that are causing issues, you are not alone. Many of our patients believe the same thing. When it comes down to the actual cost in the long term, however, the fact of the matter is that repairing your tooth via root canal surgery is the better option. Extraction can leave your mouth with even more dental problems than it started with, including things like tissue and bone loss as well as issue with teeth that were adjacent to the now empty socket.

Will root canal therapy save my tooth?

Root canal therapy is a procedure that many patients respond well to. Many of them experience a successful procedure, in fact, where their tooth is saved and able to be restored to health. Unfortunately, this is not always a guarantee. We are not able to tell you with 100% certainty that a root canal can save your tooth, but it is very, very likely that it could. The important thing to keep in mind is that you will need to have a crown installed within 30 days of your root canal in order to ensure that the root canal was not wasted and that the tooth is protected from further damage or decay.

How long does root canal therapy take?

Root canal therapy takes usually one appointment to complete, however you will need to come back in after the procedure has been completed in order to have the aforementioned restoration (a crown, usually) placed over your tooth.

If you would like to learn more about root canal therapy, please don't hesitate to give us a call today at (516) 243-7473! We are happy to look at the best options for your oral health.