What is Endodontics and When Do You need it?

Laura

We are a throwaway society where we replace things we have no use for, but it is a mistake to apply similar logic to your teeth.

We lose our teeth every day as a consequence of accidents or lifelong neglect. While we can always refer to tooth replacement methods to replace broken and decaying teeth, is it not better to try and preserve our natural teeth? The alternative is to live out the rest of our days using artificial ones that do not quite measure up.

Endodontics in Birmingham loosely translated means ‘inside the tooth’, referring to tooth-saving surgeries that treat infected pulp. The inside of the tooth  – the pulp – compromises of the soft parts of a tooth, namely blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. When your pulp becomes infected, you will experience pain and discomfort that cannot be relieved with a painkiller.

You might think the tenderness of your pearly whites spells the demise of your tooth. But before you resort to extreme measures like tooth extraction, make an appointment with an endodontist to see whether it is possible to manage your pain while salvaging your tooth.

What is endodontics in Birmingham?

An endodontist studies endodontics. Endodontics is a specialized field that in layman’s terms, is referred to as ‘tooth-saving dentistry’.

There are several types of endodontic treatments that help to manage your pain by finding the source, but root canals are the most commonly performed procedure.

The surgery has a bad reputation with people fearing the prospect of having to undergo it.  However, root canals are more common than you think with millions of people receiving this operation every year. While a root canal procedure should not be underplayed, it can be compared to that of a standard filling.

The surgery involves removing the infected pulp that is causing you harm, disinfecting the sight of bacteria and resealing the space so that germs cannot enter the area.

A fully-developed tooth does not need the pulp to survive because it receives nourishment from the surrounding tissue, and so can survive without it.

What are the benefits of root canal surgery?

Apart from the obvious that it saves your tooth, a root canal can improve your quality of life in the following ways:

  • You can chew or bite without feeling pain or sensitivity
  • You can enjoy food – hot, cold or hard – without harming your tooth
  • You save money, knowing you will not have to replace your teeth with dentures, bridges or dental implants.

Can I go to my general dentist for these types of treatments?

If you are in extreme pain, you may have no other options but to see your local dentist. In these circumstances, he or she might refer you to a qualified oral health practitioner trained in endodontics.

While your dentist may have received postgraduate training for pain management, he or she does not perform root canals every day. An endodontist performs root canals and other similar treatments daily.

In searing pain that goes beyond your average toothache? See a dental practitioner, before it is too late for your tooth.

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