Although a tooth may be very hard on the exterior the center is made up of soft tissue, it is in this tissue that the nerves of the tooth are located. The bulk of this soft tissue is located below the gum line in the root of the tooth. A root canal in Colorado Springs is a dental procedure where this soft tissue and the nerves will be removed as a result of an abscess or significant infection.
Quite often an individual, more than likely an adult, will begin to sense pain in a tooth, this pain may be accompanied by swelling and sensitivity to hot and cold beverages. If the pain can be tracked to one tooth in particular then the soft tissue inside the tooth may be infected.
In some situations the infection can be treated with antibiotics, there will be no need for dental intervention. However, more often the dentist will have to remove the soft tissue and the nerves to eliminate the infection as well as any pain in the future. Root canals have a bad reputation; the procedure has been “hyped up” to the point where may people fear the thoughts of having to endure the procedure. The truth is with proper anesthesia along with pre-treatment to eliminate any infection it takes no longer nor is the sensation any worse than having to sit through two or three fillings done at once.
In most cases a root canal will be limited to a single tooth however if the infection has taken hold it may be necessary to involve more than a single tooth. Once the dentist has opened the tooth and removed the tissue and nerves the remaining core is filled with a somewhat flexible material before it is capped.
A patient who has experienced a root canal in Colorado Springs will fee some discomfort for a couple of days after the procedure. There is nothing to be concerned about; any discomfort can be treated with ibuprofen or similar pain reliever. If ibuprofen does not give sufficient relief the dentist that performed the procedure can prescribe codeine.
During the procedure the top of the tooth will usually have to be destroyed, this will result in the need for a crown which will be fitted to the tooth two or three weeks after the root canal took place. Depending on the location of the tooth the crown will be porcelain, silver or gold.
A root canal in Colorado Springs is needed when the tooth is infected or seriously decayed. A root canal is a favored treatment over extraction as to maintain the integrity of the adjacent teeth will require a bridge or dental implant, all adding to the cost. Discuss the options with Dr. Marc R. Van Ness at Lehman Drive Dental.
