Your smile is outstanding. We provide a comprehensive range of preventative and restorative procedures at Erskine Dental Care to help you maintain the health, aesthetics, and functionality of your teeth. If your teeth become infected, endodontic treatment is included. This is more frequently referred to as root canal therapy. When saving a tooth is not an option, we also provide tooth replacement options like dental implants.
Wherever it is practicable, dentists will always try to preserve a natural tooth. This is not always achievable, though, for instance when the infection has been allowed to fester and cause tooth decay or when it is too severe. When this occurs, choices for tooth replacement can close the gaps in your smile.
Root Canal Treatment
Your teeth are made up of various components. The enamel, a hard covering on the tooth, is the exterior layer that gives your tooth its colour. Any germ that enters the body will start by attacking here. We advise routine cleanliness and dental exams because enamel degradation may not always show signs.
The dentine layer, a spongy material that makes up much of the tooth, is located behind the enamel. If germs penetrate this layer, they are absorbed and begin to accelerate deterioration. This might cause sensitivity. The dental pulp, the soft tissue at the core of the tooth where the nerve tissue is also located, may become infected if decay in the dentine layer is not treated.
The live tissues in the dental pulp may perish from infection. Any signs of pain experienced during biting or chewing may start to fade as this takes place. But this isn’t encouraging. Once in the root canal, the infection spreads and becomes more dangerous. oedema of the face, discolouration of the tooth, oedema, and even pus seeping from the infected tooth are all signs of root canal infection.
Your dentist will either perform root canal therapy or, if the infection is left untreated for an extended period, may need to extract the tooth.
Options for damaged teeth following root canal therapy
It may still be possible to salvage the infected tooth using root canal therapy in circumstances when decay and infection have caused the tooth to fracture or break. An endodontist will remove all the tissues from the tooth and its roots using sophisticated tools and a microscope before flushing it out with a potent antibiotic solution. The tooth will subsequently be filled with particular filling materials to reinforce the tooth’s remaining structural elements. Once this is finished, a crown can be put on top of the tooth to protect the original tooth, if there is enough good tooth left.
ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS A BETTER CHOICE THAN A CROWN AND ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?
The greatest solution for saving teeth that cannot be preserved with a root canal operation is dental implants. In addition to filling in a gap in your smile, dental implants can assist preserve the health of your natural teeth by preventing additional pressure or a change in your bite.
But teeth that can be predictably fixed rather than replaced should not be replaced with dental implants. Onlays, crowns, and fillings can all be used to restore damaged teeth, conserving the natural tooth, which is preferable to extracting the tooth while it is still healthy.
HOW PROBABLE IS A SUCCESSFUL ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?
The maintenance and aftercare of your smile, just like with any dental procedure, is crucial to maintaining the long-term success of any cure. The major danger of receiving a root canal is reinfection. Because of this, it’s crucial to maintain a regular oral hygiene practice that includes brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist and hygienist. You have a good chance of having root canal therapy work in the long run if you listen to your dentist’s instructions.
HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THE TREATMENT FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS IS GOING TO BE A SUCCESS?
For dental implants to succeed in the long run, regular maintenance and dental care are just as important as root canal therapy. To prevent infection, it is crucial to maintain good oral hygiene in the gum tissue surrounding the implant. The following variables can influence the success of dental implants:
Position of the implant: Our dentists have experience and training in dental implant placement. The placement of the implant can significantly affect its long-term upkeep and potential consequences. A skilled and experienced dentist will significantly lower this risk by making sure that the dental implant is positioned in the best possible way for you.
Risk of infection: If the area surrounding the implant develops an infection, this could result in dental implant failure, especially if the infection is not treated and is allowed to get worse. Any problems can be detected during routine dental and hygienist visits. Overall the success rate of dental implants is 99% over 15 years.
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