Root Canal Treatment Columbia, MD

At Columbia Advanced Dental Studio, we regularly perform a root canal therapy (endodontic treatment) in order to remove infections and save our patients’ teeth. Dr. Lee is a proficient at completing the procedure and doing so while keeping patients completely comfortable. Root canals are a common procedure. In fact, every year millions of root canals are performed and, as a result, the need to pull infected teeth is greatly reduced. If you live in the Columbia area and are currently experiencing tooth pain, we invite you to call (410) 635-5105 to schedule an appointment and see if you need a root canal endodontic treatment.

Why do most people need a root canal?
When a tooth becomes infected, that infection can spread into the center of the tooth. This area is called the dental pulp. Inside of the dental pulp are the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. All of the sensitive areas of the tooth are contained here. As such, when the area becomes infected it can be incredibly painful, requiring immediate treatment. Endodontic treatment (“endo” – inside; “dont” – tooth), commonly known as root canal treatment, is needed when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. Root canal treatment can be used to treat an infected tooth that has deep tooth decay, repeated dental procedures on one tooth (replacing a large filling, for example), or traumatic damage such as broken tooth or even a root fracture. Gum disease can also give rise to root canal problems necessitating root canal treatment. We can perform a root canal treatment quickly on people living in and around the 21045 area.

How does the treatment work?
A root canal endodontic procedure works by creating a small hole in the tooth so that all of the infected areas can be removed. The dental pulp is removed, and oftentimes so are the roots. You only need your tooth roots to feel sensations like hot and cold and for the tooth to grow in. Once it has fully matured, removing the roots will not directly harm the tooth. It can, however, prevent the further spread of infection so when it is necessary to remove the roots; we promptly do so. Once done, we will clean the area to ensure that the infection is gone. Dr. Lee will typically prescribe antibiotics, as well. This ensures that any lingering infection is eliminated.

In order to complete the root canal, we will seal up the hole and area where the dental pulp used to be. This is typically done with something called gutta-percha. This is a rubber-like substance that can help to stabilize the tooth now that a portion is missing. Once the root canal treatment is completed, the tooth could become brittle and eventually crack or break. The tooth needs to be protected with a crown. At Columbia Advanced Dental Studio, we will place a crown in order to further strengthen and protect the damaged tooth. The crown is created in a tooth color that matches the surrounding teeth. This means that regardless of where your infected tooth is located, a crown can be used, and it will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding teeth. Patients throughout the Columbia area appreciate how natural their tooth looks once the procedure is complete.

Columbia, Maryland Root Canal Treatment

Why should I have a root canal endodontics treatment?
If you live in Columbia, MD you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Lee to discuss the health of your teeth, any problems that you may be having and what should be done to heal and protect the tooth. If it appears that a root canal is the best option, we will make this recommendation. If not, we will present a treatment solution that will solve your health issue. Overall, a root canal endodontic treatment is extremely effective for saving damaged teeth by removing any infection that may be there. This single treatment makes it possible for millions of teeth to be saved on an annual basis and once it is completed; eating and drinking becomes easy again.

What about discomfort?
In almost all cases, patients throughout Maryland do not feel any pain during their root canal endodontics procedure at Columbia Advanced Dental Studio. If a patient has severe dental anxiety we can help the patient feel very comfortable by using sedation dentistry. We have a variety of ways that we can eliminate both discomfort and anxiety during a root canal. Whether a patient needs to take something ahead of time to relax or by using nitrous oxide, Dr. Lee is specially trained at painless dentistry and ensuring that patients are able to enjoy their dental treatments.

What are the advantages of this procedure?
In the past, many people would need to have their teeth pulled if they became severely infected or the dental pulp became inflamed. Now, those same teeth can be saved by performing a root canal. This is a far better option because it keeps the natural tooth in place. This is important for the shape of the face because as teeth fall out the muscles in the face can start to sag. While this isn’t particularly common with the loss of one tooth, it is when several become infected and fall out. By treating and saving an infected tooth, Dr. Lee is helping to preserve our patients’ facial structure.

Another benefit is that once the root canal has been completed, and the filling or crown is in place; it is possible to eat like normal and without restrictions. Once the infection is gone, and the tooth is strengthened, it will behave like it used to. That makes it possible to bite down with normal force, chew, and maintain normal activities without worrying about the tooth. This helps patients throughout Columbia to get back to return to their busy schedules.

A restored tooth will look completely natural if a tooth-colored crown or filling is used to restore it. In fact, crowns can be created in the exact shade of the surrounding teeth so that it blends in perfectly. This way no one will know that you ever had a procedure completed. If, in fact, you had a root canal done previously, you may want to have the filling or crown around it replaced with today’s version for an improved appearance.

Alternatively, if you don’t have a root canal endodontic procedure completed, the infected tooth will likely need to be pulled. This is essential for preventing the spread of infection. Once the tooth is removed it will need to be replaced. The options for doing so involve wearing a denture, getting a dental bridge or having dental implants installed. These are all viable solutions but take additional time, and the recovery period is longer since the procedures will take several steps. Therefore, the easiest and most straightforward solution is to have Dr. Lee save your tooth by performing a root canal endodontics procedure. To learn more about this option call Columbia Advanced Dental Studio at 410-635-5105 and schedule an appointment.

Helpful Related Links

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of dental terms. 2015
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home page. 2015
• WebMD. WebMD’s oral care guide. 2015

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