If your dentist tells you that you need a root canal, it may not be the most exciting news you have ever received. However, a root canal 
means that you have severe teeth decay or damage to the tooth which, without a root canal, would probably require an extraction. Learn more about how root canals work and how one could save your tooth with Dr. John Murphy, Dr. Patrick Murphy, and board certified endodontist Dr. Natalie Shlosman at Murphy Dental Group in Milton, MA.
What is a root canal?
It is easier to understand what a root canal does if you understand the physical makeup of a tooth. Teeth decay begins on the tooth’s hard, outer layers and eats its way through the tooth to its inner pulp chamber, a hollow area full of the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels. A root canal is a dental procedure which uses specialized tools to remove infected or damaged tissue from within the pulp chamber, then scrub its walls clean before filling the tooth to restore its healthy structure. This straightforward procedure is almost always a complication-free, painless treatment which will have your tooth restored, healthy, and free from decay in about an hour.
Do I need a root canal to preserve my tooth?
If you have a toothache, your dentist will almost certainly recommend a root canal. However, if decay has not yet reached the tooth’s inner pulp chamber, you may not experience a toothache at all. You might only see your cavity visually in the form of a brown or black dot or hole on the tooth. Unexplained bad breath and sensitivity to hot and cold are also signs that you may need a root canal. Many people mistakenly believe that they do not need dental treatment unless they experience pain. However, your dentist may also recommend a root canal if the decay is close enough to the tooth’s pulp that a dental filling, used to treat decay which has not yet reached the inner tooth, would not be sufficient.
Root Canal Therapy in Milton, MA
If you have a damaged or decayed tooth, you are sure to benefit from a root canal. If you have a toothache, you should see your dentist as soon as possible to cure the infection. We recommend that root canals be done by specially trained dentists like Dr. Natalie Shlosman. Leaving a decayed tooth untreated could result in tooth loss, an event easily avoidable with a root canal. With modern techniques root canals are usually done in one visit, and after a root canal is performed, we recommend that a crown is done to protect the tooth.
For more information on root canals, please contact Dr. John Murphy, Dr. Patrick Murphy, and Dr. Natalie Shlosman at Murphy Dental Group in Milton, MA. Call (617) 696-3900 to schedule your appointment with your Murphy Dental Group dentist today!