Root Canal Treatment - Tulsa, OK

Why Do I Need a Root Canal?

Because we brush and floss our teeth every day, we may not always think about the significant impact of oral hygiene. Our teeth are composed of various parts, all of which are affected by many factors, oral hygiene being one of countless.

The outermost part of a tooth is the enamel. This hard, shiny substance is the source of a beautiful smile and serves to protect the inner areas of teeth. Enamel, though durable, is porous. Containing microscopic holes, this part of teeth can become worn by the acid in foods and beverages, or damaged by bacteria, in the form of cavities. Beneath the enamel lies the pulp chamber, which contains the nerves and vessels of a tooth. It may become necessary to visit your dentist for root canal treatment should this part of the tooth become infected. In our Tulsa dental practice, we make this procedure as comfortable and quick as possible.

There are various reasons dental pulp may become infected. Most commonly, root canal treatment becomes necessary when a cavity has been left untreated for some time. At the heart of cavities, as well as subsequent infection, are bacteria. Our mouths are filled with hundreds of tiny microorganisms, some of which consume sugary substances left behind after meals and snacks. The waste secreted by the bacteria is acidic, eating away enamel and reaching the inner chambers of teeth. The progression of damage leads to infection and pain.

In some cases, the presence of gum disease leads to infection within teeth. Gum tissue, meant to support stable teeth, may become diseased from bacterial activity. This affected tissue, which lies near the roots of teeth, may pull away from tooth structure, allowing bacteria to move toward the root. In such an instance, the pulp of a tooth may become infected from the bottom up.

Lastly, a tooth that has sustained a physical injury, such as during a sporting event, may not sustain an adequate blood supply. Over time, the internal damage may result in the breakdown of the pulp and subsequent infection. Most tooth injuries are quite minor, but we encourage our patients to have any dental trauma evaluated right away.

Benefits of Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is a beneficial procedure that most people mistakenly wish to avoid. This procedure, performed carefully by Dr. Hammond, has long been associated with pain. Most commonly, however, patients report feeling more bored than anything else. In our dental practice, we handle patient care with great gentleness, using instruments that speed up the process of removing infected tissue. Though root canal treatment is performed under local anesthesia, and patients feel nothing more than gentle pressure, we also offer sedation dentistry for those who are feeling anxious about their procedure. Your comfort is as important to us as the repair of damaged teeth.

Your emergency dentist in Tulsa can get you out of pain with gentle treatment. Contact us to schedule your visit today.