At the Dr. Surya Narayanan Dental Clinic in Mumbai, we understand that dental procedures may seem daunting at times, especially when associated with root canal treatment. There are several misconceptions related to the procedure, feeding into a great amount of dental anxiety.
In this blog, we will go over the pros and cons of root canal treatment to help you make an informed decision regarding your dental health.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
It is done to extract the pulp in a tooth because of infection or damage to the tissue. This is recommended when the tooth has been badly decayed or traumatized to such an extent that the infection has multiplied. The purpose is to save the tooth and avoid further infection so that your natural smile remains.
Advantages of the Treatment of Root Canal
Saves Natural Teeth
One of the major advantages of root canal treatment is that it allows one to retain his or her natural tooth. Preserving your tooth is advantageous in the maintenance of dental health and retaining your bite and alignment.
Pain Relief
Infection or damage causes most patients to feel strong pain. Root canal treatment aids in taking away this pain so that you can comfortably carry on with your activities.
Restores the Use of Your Tooth
After treating your tooth, you will be able to use it like any other tooth in your mouth and eat or even talk without problems. This restoration of use is important for a healthy diet and quality lifestyle.
It Averts Further Infection
By the extraction of infected tissue, root canal therapy has helped prevent the spread of infection to surrounding teeth and tissues, thereby reducing more serious health issues.
Long-lasting Solution
With proper care and regular dental visits, a tooth that undergoes root canal treatment can last a lifetime.
Disadvantages of Root Canal Treatment
Procedure Discomfort
The procedure, which eventually will provide relief from pain for most patients once the treatment is over, might cause discomfort to the patient. At any rate, discomfort during the procedure has been reduced substantially through advances in dental technology and anaesthesia.
Cost
This is a more costly treatment compared to the extraction procedure or less involved dental treatment. You may have to pay out of pocket, depending on your dental insurance coverage.
Multiple Visits
This is because root canal treatment requires many visits to complete the procedure, depending on the complexity of the case. This can be inconvenient for some patients.
Risk of Complications
As with any other treatment, there might be complications; however, these could be infection problems later on or failure of the filling used to seal the tooth. But these are extremely rare cases.
Restoration Requirement
After treatment via a root canal, one will probably require a crown or any restoration to such teeth in order to offer added protection. This adds to the general time and cost of treatment.
Conclusion
Root canal treatment is an important dental treatment for protecting one’s dental health in case the tooth has been damaged or infected. This, of course, comes with its merits and drawbacks, though one can often weigh the benefits against the disadvantages to remain with one’s original smile.
If you are unsure about your need for a root canal or if you are curious about your options, please do not hesitate to contact us at Dr. Surya Narayanan Dental Clinic. Our team dedicates time to offering you the best possible care and advice to help you make the right decision for your dental health.