In all of dental care, is there any procedure more misunderstood than root canal therapy? While this endodontic solution provides relief by eliminating decay at its source, you would be hard-pressed to find volunteers. Given the choice, many patients would rather wait until their oral health has been wholly compromised before even speaking to their dentist. They believe this treatment is too uncomfortable and unreliable to be valuable, but this is rarely the case.
Ongoing research shows dentists achieve a high success rate through root canal therapy and more and more practices are incorporating the latest technique and technology to make this procedure as comfortable as possible. If you’re still on the fence, consider the following ways in which endodontic treatment proves to be worthwhile:
Preserving Your Natural Smile
If you were to ask any dentist, each one would agree that naturally healthy teeth are unrivaled in their function. They would also be quick to point out that decay or injury to even a single tooth can upset the balance of the whole smile. For this reason, the focus of restorative dental care is bringing back as much of a patient’s original oral structure as possible. However, being a candidate for restorations such as dentures, bridges, and dental implants means that tooth loss or extraction has already taken place.
The goal of root canal therapy is to resolve problems that occur within a tooth before they have a chance to become more significant. This procedure involves clearing out the affected tissue and sealing off the pulp chamber from future infection and can be a straightforward, painless process when performed by an experienced dentist. By undergoing endodontic care, patients have their original tooth saved and avoid some of the expense and potential difficulties associated with replacing teeth.
Safeguarding Your Long-Term Oral Health
While it should go without saying that being proactive when dental issues occur is the best course of action, many people still take a “wait-and-see” approach to decay. Leaving an infected tooth untreated does more than prolong discomfort, it contributes to a host of health complications. These can range from gum disease to systemic concerns, such as respiratory infections and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Having these subsequent problems addressed in full may require more extensive treatment.
In many cases, rapid bacterial growth is the reason why patients experience dental infection and the complications that follow. Once harmful bacteria have entered a tooth’s interior structure, root canal therapy is instrumental in preventing them from spreading throughout the mouth and into other areas of the body. This results in immediate health improvement while also reducing the need for costly procedures down the line.
Experiencing Persistent Dental Discomfort? Call Us Today!
Preserving your smile’s health is critical, especially since it contributes to proper function and overall well-being on a daily basis. By receiving prompt treatment for decay or infection, you can enjoy the long-term benefits your natural teeth have to offer.
At the Central Park practice of Dr. Geghani Shahinyan, we help patients overcome their dental issues in a comfortable, stress-free environment. For more information about how we provide root canal therapy in East Harlem and across the Upper East Side, contact our office today and schedule an appointment!