Root Canal Therapy Benefits
Root Canal or endodontic treatment was found, in a recent survey, to be the one treatment that causes the most apprehension in dental patients. Root canal therapy has a bad reputation but, because of advances in modern dental techniques, is a relatively simple and pain-free alternative to extraction – and you get to keep the tooth.
When the inner pulp and nerves of your tooth become infected, there are only two possible options, extract the tooth or perform root canal treatment. Extraction is obviously quicker and cheaper, but it then leaves you with a gap in your teeth, which must be replaced by a bridge or a dental implant.
An infected root canal can cause a variety of problems:
- A bad smell in your mouth
- Toothache
- Fever and tenderness
- Swelling around the infected tooth
If the condition persists and is not treated, the infection can travel to the end of the root, and from there into the jaw bone, causing an abscess. If still not treated, this infection will start to poison your entire body, with dire consequences to your general health and wellbeing. There are even people who have died as a result of dental abscesses that started as a result of an untreated infection.
The main benefits of root canal treatment
- Contrary to popular belief, it is a relative painless and simple procedure. Root canal treatment has a 90% success rate and only 1% of patients need further treatment, whereas 12% of patients who opt for implants need further intervention.
- It relieves your aching tooth and restores your general wellbeing. Although it’s not a quick process, a little time in the dentist’s chair is way better than continuous toothache!
- Root canal treatment saves the infected tooth. This is probably the chief benefit of root canal treatment. If left untreated, the infection will cause the tooth to loosen in your jaw, eventually leading to the loss of your tooth. Alternatively, you might end up with no alternative to extraction, which will leave you in the same position: loss of your tooth. Now, you will need restorative treatment to close the gap left by the missing tooth.
- Improved appearance of your tooth. Often, infected root canals cause discoloration of the tooth. Normally, once the root canal treatment has been performed; the dentist will seal the resulting hole with suitable bonding material, and then cap your tooth with a crown, which will enhance the appearance and strength of your tooth.
- Improved general health. An infection in the root canal can ultimately travel to rest of your body, causing a general breakdown of your overall health. If corrected properly and timeously, your general health will benefit.
- Restored dental health. After a successful root canal treatment, your smile will be back to normal, and you will be able to eat your favorite foods again. Root canal treatment will also lessen the risk of requiring ongoing dental treatment.
Despite most people’s apprehension about root canal treatment, the benefits are undeniable. The chief benefit is prevention of the loss of the tooth and the curbing of continuing infection which will seriously affect your general health. With the advances in modern dentistry, there is no longer any need to fear root canal treatment, and with a 90% success rate the choice becomes a no-brainer.
