The pain from a broken, damaged, or infected tooth can be excruciating. When you have a toothache, it’s hard to focus on anything but getting relief from the pain as soon as possible. But many people still put off seeking dental care because they’re afraid of procedures like root canal therapy. But the truth is that it’s an effective and easy procedure that will quickly restore the health of your smile. Here, Rachel E. Gold, DMD – Total Health Dentistry in Cold Spring, KY, explains some of the main benefits of root canals.

5 Benefits of Root Canal Therapy

1. It Relieves Pain

Infections in the pulp of your tooth can be very painful and cause swelling, a foul smell, and tenderness upon touch or while chewing. Root canal therapy is the primary treatment for these infections. During this procedure, your dentist will remove the inflamed pulp, clean the inside of the tooth, and then seal the canal. Once the infection is removed, the pain subsides almost immediately.

2. It Saves Your Natural Tooth

Most dentists agree it’s better to save and restore your tooth rather than extracting and replacing it. This is because maintaining your natural tooth structure is important for the health of your surrounding teeth and jawbone. When you have missing teeth, adjacent teeth can shift and the jaw tissue can degenerate.  By keeping your original tooth using root canal therapy, you’ll prevent these damaging problems.

3. It Restores the Esthetics of Your Smile

After a root canal procedure, the tooth undergoes restoration using a crown or tooth filling. This protects the underlying structure from further damage as well as returns the beauty of your smile. Modern dental crowns look exactly like natural teeth and function equally well.

4. It’s Fast & Painless

Root canal therapy is usually completed in just a couple of dental appointments. The procedure itself is simple and relatively quick to perform, and local anesthesia is provided so you shouldn’t feel any pain. You’ll likely be sent home with a temporary crown while the area heals, and you’ll return to your dentist in approximately two weeks to have the dental crown permanently fixed.

5. It Can Save You Money

Dental implants, bridges, and partial dentures to replace extracted teeth can be expensive. By saving your natural tooth, you’ll also save money. And because root canals are common procedures, they’re often at least partially covered by insurance, so check your policy.

If you’re suffering from tooth pain, don’t put off seeking treatment. Turn to Rachel E. Gold, DMD – Total Health Dentistry for a wide range of dental treatments that provide fast pain relief and restore the health of your smile, including root canal therapy. To make an appointment, call (859) 441-1230 or visit their website to learn more.