Teeth are incredibly tough and durable, but, unfortunately, they can still break for many reasons. Untreated cavities, old or particularly large fillings, clenching and grinding, and chewing on something hard like ice are all examples. In some cases, a break is relatively minor and the tooth can be repaired with a simple filling or dental crown. In other cases, the damage is more severe and root canal therapy in Buckhead is necessary. Keep reading to find out how root canals can save badly damaged teeth and why it’s a good idea to have an endodontist perform the procedure!
How Does a Root Canal Treat a Broken Tooth?
First, a bit of “tooth anatomy” to help you understand the purpose of a root canal. Teeth have 3 layers: the outer layer is called enamel, the middle layer is called dentin, and the innermost layer is the pulp. This is where the nerve of the tooth resides, which extends all the way through the canals down the length of the root.
When teeth are damaged from a broken tooth, cavity, or other injury, a dentist wants to know how much of each layer is affected. When the damage is minor, the pulp and nerve of the tooth are still intact and most of the tooth structure still remains. In these cases, a filling or crown can restore the tooth.
But if the damage is more severe and has reached the nerve of the tooth, it will likely cause an infection as well as severe pain. In this scenario, a root canal will remove the infected pulp while saving the rest of the tooth from needing to be extracted.
After a root canal is performed, a dentist in Buckhead can put a dental crown on the tooth to restore the tooth’s size, shape and strength.
Should You Have an Endodontist Perform Your Root Canal?
General dentists do a wide range of procedures each day such as fillings, dental crowns, bridges and dentures. They can also perform root canals, but they don’t have the same experience that a root canal specialist (endodontist) does who only does root canals each day.
In addition, endodontists go on to complete 2-3 additional years of training after graduating from dental school, which enables them to complete complex cases with ease.
Training and experience come together so that an endodontist in Buckhead can provide an exceptional experience for their patients. And although root canals have a bad reputation, patients report that they’re no more painful than getting a filling.
Not to mention that they’re the best way to save damaged teeth and maintain your healthy smile for many years to come!
About the Author
Dr. Mark Barr is an endodontist in Buckhead with over 30 years of experience. In that time, he’s performed thousands of root canals in a comfortable environment to help his patients save damaged teeth they would otherwise lose. If you’ve broken a tooth and have any other questions, he can be contacted through his website or at (404) 264-1944.