Taking care of your smile is a lifelong process that often requires more care than patients are unknowingly putting in. Indeed, tooth decay, gum infection, and even structural loss can impact any person, and more often than not, the situation has progressed significantly before treatment is first sought. A primary example of this involves infected teeth roots that occur after a cavity has been left untreated. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS Prosthodontist discusses the importance of seeking treatment sooner rather than later, and how root canal therapy may be the answer.
Decay Progression
It goes without saying that tooth decay is among the most common oral health concerns out there. After all, it affects millions of Americans every year and presents itself in a variety of forms. In its earliest stages, tooth decay may present as a small hole in or around a tooth known as a cavity. Though these concerns can be treated with a simple filling, bear in mind that the longer you wait to seek treatment, the worse your situation will become. This also means that there is a chance a filling will not suffice, requiring a more extensive procedure to mitigate damage.
As the infection progresses, it will gradually work its way down into your inner tooth. Here, it will infect your dental pulp and begin causing damage to the nerves that reside within your tooth roots. It is at this stage that you will begin to experience noticeable pain, including sharp pains, difficulty in oral function (eating, biting, etc.), and overall discomfort. For more information about this process, reach out to our team today.
Major Infection
Unlike a headache or an upset stomach, a dental concern will not get better with time. As a matter of fact, your situation is guaranteed to get worse without care. Not only this, but simpler procedures such as fillings will no longer provide effective treatment, requiring you to seek more extensive care in the form of a root canal. For some, the situation becomes so bad that the only viable option is to have the structure removed and seek a dental implant restoration to benefit your oral function. Give our team a call today to learn more about this process.
What Treatment Looks Like
Root canal therapy involves carefully but thoroughly removing the infected portions of a tooth, including the dental pulp. After this, a dental material is used to fill the hollow canals so that your nerves remain protected and your structure is reinforced. And that is it!
Learn More Today
To learn more about the need for restorative root canal therapy and seeking treatment sooner rather than later, contact Dr. Stuart Dexter Prosthodontist in Prairie Village, KS by calling 913-362-8200 and schedule your appointment today.