Root Canals An Overview
Depending on your condition, Dr. Stephen Hoard may perform your root canal procedure in his New Bern dentist office or refer you to a local endodontist for treatment. Dr. Hoard’s role is to design and coordinate a treatment plan that will result in a long lasting, comfortable and natural looking restoration of your tooth.
A root canal treatment is also commonly referred to as simply a “root canal”. It becomes necessary when the tissues inside your tooth, called the pulp, becomes infected and needs to be removed from the pulp chamber.
This usually results from deep decay (cavities) or a chip or crack in the surface of your tooth. The infection in the pulp can spread down through the root canals of your teeth into tissues of your gums. This infection, called an abscess, can be very painful and can be dangerous to your overall health, possibly even leading to heart disease.
Root canals are a part of Dr. Steven Hoard’s general dentistry treatments.
Why Do I Need A Root Canal?
You may need a root canal treatment if you have a tooth that is sensitive to hot and cold, to touch or is painful to use when chewing. Inflamed and sensitive gums around the tooth are another indicator. Informing Dr. Hoard of these and any other symptoms you may be having during exams will allow him to determine if a root canal is necessary for your condition.
Dr. Hoard will perform some root canals, depending on the severity of the condition. For very severe cases, he may refer you to an endodontist or oral surgeon. An endodontist is a dental specialist who specializes in treating the insides of your teeth.
Many people avoid root canals due to the belief that the procedure will be painful or because they may have heard “horror stories” of complications from the procedure. Some even have teeth pulled rather than undergo the treatment.
Dentists prefer root canals to extractions to save the natural teeth as empty spaces in your teeth can lead to teeth shifting positions and even further decay and even bone loss. There is no need to risk this.
Root canals may have been painful a few decades ago but with our modern technology and anesthetics, the procedure is only about as painful as having a filling placed.