Hearing that you need a root canal treatment may not be the best news you get, but it does mean that your tooth can be saved from extraction. A root canal treatment is most often needed when decay or damage has reached the inner pulp of your tooth. Often when decay is left untreated, it continues to make its way further into the tooth. Once it is deep inside the tooth, it can cause an infection. This infection can cause quite a bit of pain, and it can also spread to other parts of the body. 

A root canal treatment cleans out the infection

A root canal treatment also referred to as endodontic therapy is a process that eliminates bacteria, infection, and any damaged nerves from inside the tooth. Once all of the infected pulp and decay is removed, the tooth can be sterilized and sealed with a filling material.

Restoring the tooth

Once a cavity has gotten so severe to have reached the inner pulp, it is likely that the enamel and dentin (the outer layers) of the tooth have lost structural integrity. An accidental chip or crack can be so large to expose the inner pulp and cause the need for a root canal. It is often likely that after root canal therapy removes any diseased parts of the tooth, the tooth needs to be protected by a crown. A crown can restore the tooth’s appearance and function. Most importantly, the crown will protect the tooth from future damage. A crown can last a lifetime with good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist.

A root canal treatment can save your tooth from extraction

If you have a toothache, you may need a filling or a root canal. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dentist Associates in Mansfield, TX, call (817) 473-6227. We treat patients from the Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, and Midlothian areas