How to avoid root canals.
Every time
people hear about root canals, it makes them feel not very comfortable, to say
the least. Root Canal Treatment is performed when the nerve of the tooth is
irreversibly inflamed. In a great majority of cases the cause is deep carious
lesion (decay). But there are cases when nerve inflammation can be cause by
trauma of the tooth as well, or some other factors. Nerve of the tooth is such
delicate structure, so, when infected, the treatment by medication or any
conservative means is not usually an option. The rationale for the treatment of
a diseased nerve is to clean it from all existing canals of a tooth and filling
them with a filling material.
In
significant number of cases Root Canal Treatment is performed when there is evidence
that the cavity is so deep, so the risk of future nerve inflammation is great
and Root Canal Treatment is done to prevent potential inflammation from
happening. Is it wrong by making that choice? No. Determination to perform Root
Canal Treatment is based on many specific factors of a particular situation at
hand. It is judgment call. After all Dentistry both is an art and a science.
But there is
also scientific evidence that the nerve has great potential for healing, when
handled conservatively with the use of materials that applied on the base of
even a deep carious cavity or a fractured tooth. Those materials promote
calcium formation that protects the nerve (pulp) of a tooth, forming a
protective layer over the nerve of the tooth. That approach coupled with use of
modern bonding technology and materials enables a dentist to restore teeth
conservatively, thus avoiding Root Canal Treatment. I call it Minimally
Invasive Dentistry. Time tested Composite and Ceramic materials that are
compatible with the tooth structure can restore large portion of a tooth
structure safely. Composite or Ceramic Inlays or Onlays are very good
alternative to a crown (when indicated), because it requires much less cutting
(reduction) of a tooth structure than a crown preparation and it’s least
irritating for the gingiva (gum). Inlay is lab processed restoration that fits
very tight against a prepared tooth. It is stronger than a composite filling,
fits more accurately and lasts longer.
Before
After