If you have a dental infection, your dentist may prescribe a root canal, which is an endodontic procedure in which the pulp of the infected tooth is fully removed. To remove the pulp, which is the living material inside the tooth, the dentist drills a hole into the tooth. The pulp, which contains the dental nerves and the blood vessels of the tooth, is completely excised. Once the pulp is gone, the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before a dental filling is added. Although the filling is in place, the structural integrity of the tooth has been compromised by the drilling and the removal of the pulp. Thus, it is important to have a dental crown added to protect and reinforce the tooth.
Nevertheless, the dentist may also give you the option of having a dental extraction. Here are a few reasons why a root canal is often preferred:
You can keep your smile.
Once an adult tooth is extracted, it never grows back, and your smile may be marred. In order to maintain the appearance of your smile, it is best not to have the tooth extracted. The gap left by the missing tooth can only be filled using a prosthetic dental device, such as a dental implant.
The tooth continues to stimulate the jawbone.
The jawbone requires regular stimulation in order to maintain its density. When bite pressure is transferred from the tooth to the bone, the development of new bone cells is encouraged. However, once a tooth is extracted, there is no bite pressure received at the extraction site. The jawbone, in turn, cannot receive stimulation. This can eventually cause teeth that are near the extraction site to become loose in their sockets. In addition, the facial structure around the site may take on a hollow or sullen look.
The tooth continues to prevent adjacent teeth from migrating.
Once a tooth is extracted, the gap left in the mouth can encourage adjacent teeth to migrate from their normal position. This shifting takes place over a period, but without a tooth serving as a place-keeper for neighboring teeth, dental misalignment is likely. If dental misalignment does occur, it may require the use of an orthodontic appliance to correct it.
If you are experiencing symptoms of an infected tooth, contact a dentist in your area to schedule a consultation. He or she can determine a diagnosis and a suitable course of treatment. Contact a business, such as Family Dentistry Of Woodstock, for more information.
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