Understanding Root Canal Procedures

4 Options For Treating Tooth Decay

13 September 2019

Diane Mason

Tooth decay happens when your teeth are degraded by plaque or mechanical damage. It's important to treat tooth decay since your teeth don't have the ability to heal on their own. The severity of the damage to your teeth will often determine the type of treatment your dentist uses to fix them. Here are the four options of dental treatment available for tooth decay, in order from least to most invasive.

Fillings

Fillings are the standard treatment for decaying teeth. Your dentist will drill away the soft, damaged parts of your teeth using a small dental drill. Once they clean the affected area, they will fill it in using either amalgam or resin composite. Resin composite fillings are more attractive since they're invisible, but amalgam fillings are an economical option.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is necessary once the decay in your teeth has reached your tooth's pulp. The pulp of your teeth is spongy and porous, and it's prone to infection when bacteria is introduced. Your dentist will need to clean out your tooth's root system. They'll replace it with a material that's similar to rubber before sealing your tooth with a dental crown. Root canal therapy is an effective way to save a tooth that's badly damaged.

Tooth Extraction

In cases where your tooth is severely damaged due to an injury or simple decay, tooth extraction might be an option to consider. Severely infected teeth can pose a hazard to your health. Having those teeth removed is the surest and fastest route to getting rid of the infection. If you don't want to pay for root canal therapy or if your tooth is no longer structurally sound, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction to you.

Dental Implants

If you decide to have a tooth removed, you will need to replace it. Leaving a gap in your mouth can cause more dental problems down the line. Each tooth in your mouth is vital for maintaining overall tooth alignment. Your jawbone can start to atrophy when you're missing teeth since there's no longer pressure regularly provided through your bite force. Dental implants are a great restorative option. They're permanent and require no adhesives or special care. Your dentist will simply insert a titanium implant into your gums and jaw. Once it's healed, they will attach an abutment and prosthetic tooth that matches the natural teeth already in your mouth.

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