Few words cause as much fear and trepidation in the heart of a person than that of a Root Canal. But what exactly is a root canal treatment and why does it have such a feared reputation?

Root canal treatment is nothing more than a dental (endodontic) treatment that removes the pulp from inside a tooth and fills in the empty canals. The pulp includes connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels. When the tooth is new, the pulp nourishes the tooth. However, once the tooth matures, it is nourished by a blood supply in the gums letting the pulp be removed.

When is a Root Canal treatment needed?

There are two main reasons your dentist would recommend root canal treatment. The first is infection. An untreated cavity (bacteria) may cause the tooth’s pulp to become infected. The second reason for selecting a root canal would be trauma or damage to the pulp (often caused from a fractured tooth).

When the pulp is inflamed but not infected, it may heal on its own. In such cases, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics and wait to see what happens. If the pulp becomes infected, an abscess may form. Root canal treatment would instead save the tooth by removing the infected or damaged pulp, treating any infection, and filling the empty root canals.

Without root canal treatment, an infected tooth may have to be extracted. Since it always better to keep your natural teeth, a root canal is generally the best option.

Aren’t root canals painful?

They don’t have to be. At Gateway Dental Arts in Salt Lake City Utah, in addition to thoroughly numbing the treatment areas, we offer sedation dentistry. Our techniques let patients dream through the entire experience with little or no memory of the visit. So while root canal treatment has a bad name elsewhere, there’s nothing to fear when making your appointment at Gateway Dental Arts.

Crowns

Generally a tooth that needs a root canal may also have a large filling or portions of the tooth that are missing due to decay or breakage. In such instances, the tooth can be restored with a dental crown.

Crowns are permanent dental restorations that fit over the portion of the remaining tooth that extends above the gums. Crowns are also sometimes referred to as caps. In addition to restoring structure, crowns provide a seal that protects the interior of the tooth. While once made of gold, dental crowns today feature a white porcelain surface that matches and blends with your neighboring teeth.

Experience

Dr. Rick Austin, at Gateway Dental Arts has placed thousands of crowns—and unlike other dentists who rely on outside dental labs to create their crowns, Gateway Dental Arts creates each crown in their own, in-house dental lab. This not only assures your dental treatment will be quick and convenient, but that your crown will fit and match perfectly.

Nobody likes to get dental work done. However, when you require a crown, visit a dentist who understands the importance of a confident and beautiful smile. Trust the experience of Dr. Rick Austin at Gateway Dental Arts.

Set up your free consultation today by calling 801-321-7600.