Give Your Damaged Tooth a Second Chance

A damaged tooth often means a painful tooth and is a situation that most people would choose to avoid if given the chance. However, dental crownsbroken and damaged teeth are one of the most common dental issues. So, luckily, your dentist can help repair your damaged tooth and restore your biting surface with a root canal. Find out more about root canals, how they work, and why they are important with Dr. Ben Baldwin and Dr. Stuart Baldwin at Baldwin Dental Group in Madisonville, KY.

How does a root canal work? 
A root canal is an important procedure aimed at preserving the tooth’s natural structure while removing decayed or infected tissue inside. The infection comes from tooth decay, which, after reaching the tooth’s inner pulp chamber, damages the tooth’s blood vessels and nerve which lie inside. This results in a toothache or if left untreated, can cause a dental abscess. By removing the tooth’s tissues and nerve, your dentist also removes the tooth’s ability to feel pain, curing both the infection and the toothache in one fell swoop.

Root Canal vs. Extraction 
In the past, dentists could only remove the infected tissue by removing the entire tooth altogether, leading to further complications. Since implementing modern root canals, dentists can keep the tooth intact and cure the infection. A missing tooth, such as one which your dentist has extracted, results in some serious side effects, like the degradation of the bone underneath, a process called bone atrophy. As the bone atrophies, the skin on the face may begin to sag. Additionally, the teeth around the missing tooth may shift to accommodate for the extra room in the mouth, throwing off the natural bite, making chewing more difficult, or even triggering conditions like TMJ disorder.

Root Canal therapy in Madisonville, KY 
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures, performed about 41,000 times a day according to the American Association of Endodontists. While root canals often come with the assumption that the procedure is long and painful, this is a myth. Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the work area and ensure that you feel no pain during your treatment.

For more information on root canal therapy or how it could benefit you, please contact Dr. Ben Baldwin and Dr. Stuart Baldwin at Baldwin Dental Group in Madisonville, KY. Call (270) 245-1547 to schedule your appointment with your dentist today!

Contact Us

Family Dentist Madisonville, KY

Baldwin Dental Group

32 East Broadway

Madisonville, KY 42431

(270) 245-1547