YOUR OFFICE FOR ENDODONTICS NEAR ME IN LAS VEGAS EXPLAINS WHY YOU MAY NEED A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

YOUR OFFICE FOR ENDODONTICS NEAR ME IN LAS VEGAS EXPLAINS WHY YOU MAY NEED A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

By: Dr. Christopher Lim
Posted on: August 29, 2019

Your search for endodontics near me in Las Vegas ends here. Dr. Christopher Lim and the team at Hillside Dental are adept at gently and effectively treating the inside of your tooth (pulp). It’s this soft tissue that is at the heart of why you may need a root canal treatment.
 

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

Under the hard enamel and dentin parts of our teeth is soft pulp tissue, which contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. This connects the tips of the tooth’s roots to surrounding tissues. It’s vital for proper dental development. But, after a tooth has fully matured, the pulp isn’t necessary. The tooth can still survive and be healthy, because it gets its nourishment from the tissues that surround it.

Even though pulp in a fully-developed tooth isn’t necessary for oral health, it has the potential to harm your health. When something goes wrong with the pulp, many patients know it! Inflamed or infected pulp tissue often causes discomfort. The process that leads to inflammation or infection is more like a marathon than a sprint. Untreated tooth decay is a progressive condition. What starts as a cavity that requires a small filling can eventually lead to the need for root canal if left untreated.

In addition to deep decay, root canal therapy may be necessary to resolve:

• Damage from repeated dental procedures

• Chips or cracks

• Injury

• A serious infection or dental abscess
   

The types of conditions that root canal therapy treats don’t go away on their own. They only get worse. In fact, infections can spread to other parts of your face or body. Since so many of these conditions develop over time, there are usually many opportunities to restore health and prevent the need for root canal therapy. If you need this treatment, remember: Root canal therapy resolves pain and may be the only way to save a severely damaged tooth; it doesn’t cause pain!

Aside from pain, a few of the signs that you need to call Hillside Dental sooner rather than later include:

• Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold drinks and foods

• Tenderness upon touch or when chewing

• Dark spots or discoloration

• Swelling of the gums or face
   

Sometimes, there are no symptoms. Only dental professionals will be able to detect problems early, when they’re easiest to treat. Dr. Lim determines the extent of possible decay, and if a filling, crown, or a root canal followed by a crown is the best approach.
 

GET OUT OF PAIN; SAVE A TOOTH – WHAT TO EXPECT

The patient experience with modern root canal therapy is no different than a simple filling, due to advanced technologies and gentle techniques. The process generally goes something like this:

• The trouble tooth is examined.

• X-rays are taken with safe, precision digital diagnostics.

• The tooth is numbed with local anesthetic.

• Sedation may also be administered to calm anxious patients, or for long and extensive appointments.

• A small protective sheet or dam isolates the tooth and keeps it dry during the procedure.

• An opening is made in the upper part of the tooth.

• The pulp chamber and root canals are accessed.

• The inner spaces are thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and reshaped.

• Root canals are filled with a nontoxic, rubbery material.

After the material is cemented into place to seal the canals and protect them from reinfection, a temporary filling is placed to close the area that was accessed during treatment. A second visit involves removing the temporary and cementing on a custom-fabricated crown. Sometimes, a tooth that is badly damaged may require a post to build up and add structure to the tooth, so its integrity isn’t compromised.

The most conservative option in each situation is always preferred; for example, root canal treatment with a crown is preferable to extraction. The Hillside Dental team also considers your long-term health. In some cases, a large filling may not provide sufficient support, so a crown may be recommended. Dr. Lim won’t know for sure what’s best for you until after a thorough exam and consultation. Call (702) 666-8584 today.