Dentist near Brentwood discusses the benefits of root canal treatment
Posted By Dr. Jamil Alkhoury
For patients near Brentwood, California, receiving quality dental treatment is of high priority. Dr. Jamil Alkhoury and his team at Brentwood Family Dental are committed to helping patients save their smiles when problems arise. One way this can be done is with a treatment called root canal therapy.
Dr. Jamil Alkhoury describes root canal therapy as a way of saving the natural tooth structure when problems arise such as:
Damage to the tooth
Infection of the dental pulp
Large cavities
Diseased dental pulp
When these issues arise, patients may be fearful that their only solution is to extract the tooth. Luckily, there are alternatives such as root canal therapy. Root canal therapy is a procedure that removes the dental pulp from inside of the tooth structure, and then cleanses the inner area to remove any bacteria. The canal is filled with gutta percha and the tooth is sealed, sometimes followed by placement of a dental crown. The entire process will maintain the tooth in place but treat the condition that is causing the patient pain and discomfort.
What are the benefits of root canal therapy?
The primary benefit of this treatment is the ability to keep the natural tooth in place and not deal with the expense of replacing a tooth with a denture, dental bridge, or dental implant. In most cases, root canal therapy is incredibly successful and keeps the smile intact without further treatment.
Additionally, root canal therapy can be more affordable than extraction and replacement. In some cases, patients with dental insurance may be able to reduce the overall cost of treatment by applying their benefits to the service. It is important for patients to bring their insurance cards with them to their appointment, so our front office administrators can work with patients to determine the benefits that can be used. Many times, this greatly reduces the cost of treatment for patients.
What are the alternatives?
Unfortunately, the only alternative to root canal therapy is the removal of the natural tooth. When this has been done, patients will need to work with their dental team to decide on the best restorative solutions for the smile, whether it be dentures, bridges, or implants. Implants are the only restoration that can maintain the bone structure of the jaw. With other options, this bone is lost. Instead, we encourage patients to try root canal therapy before deciding to remove the natural tooth, as the procedure is very successful when performed by a proficient and experienced professional.
Does a root canal procedure hurt?
It is essential that patients learn about the procedure itself and how it is performed to better understand that it removes the discomfort for patients, not causes discomfort. Patients who have severe toothaches may need root canal therapy to eliminate the pain. This is common, as infection of the dental pulp can be extremely painful. Pain medications alone will not solve the problem, just mask it until the patient can get a proper procedure performed to fix the source of the issue. Root canal therapy is done with local anesthetic and sedation to ensure ultimate comfort for everyone who undergoes treatment. We want patients to rest easy when they are told of certain procedures which may sound scary or invasive by educating them on what happens during the treatment and explaining how they will feel. With anesthetics and sedation, patients are relaxed and comfortable during their procedures.
Learn about the advantages of root canal treatment from a dedicated professional
At Brentwood Family Dental, we have our patients’ best interests in mind. We want our patients to get the proper and necessary treatments they need when they need it, without having to worry about whether they are getting quality services with experienced professionals. We encourage patients to contact our practice to learn about root canal therapy and other ways to save the natural smile. Call Dr. Jamil Alkhoury and his team at 925-344-5296 for an appointment at the office, conveniently located at 4411 Balfour Road, Suite C.
Did you know that you can now share the experience you had with us via an audio testimonial?Call this toll-free number (855) 224 0023 and record your audio review now!Recording an audio review is as easy as making a phone call!