Tooth decay, the condition that leads to cavities, grows gradually worse the longer it’s left untreated. If you’ve had a cavity treated with a metal filling and it fails, then the infection will also grow worse, causing more extensive damage to your tooth. Endodontic treatment, or root canal therapy, is a comprehensive restorative treatment that removes decayed tooth structure from the internal chamber (pulp) of your tooth. By cleaning and filling the pulp, as well as the root canal connected to it, your dentist can stop the infection from destroying the tooth and possibly spreading beyond it.
If Root Canal Treatment Fails
The pulp chamber of your tooth contains nerves and blood vessels that pass through the root canal and into your jawbone. When infection reaches this chamber and the tissues inside of it, the discomfort can be severe and a tooth filling may not be sufficient to fix it. Root canal therapy involves carefully removing the infection, filling the tooth with biocompatible material, and capping the tooth with a lifelike dental crown. In many cases, the treatment may be the last resort to saving the tooth before extreme decay leads to the need for tooth extraction.
Find Out if You Need Endodontic Treatment
If your tooth has become internally infected, then endodontic treatment may be the best way to save it from having to be extracted. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, today at 816-897-4288.