At Three Rivers Family Dentistry in Murfreesboro, TN, we want to help you take a look at root canal as a treatment option and why it is sometimes important to get to your dentist to get a root canal completed early. We are going to review what a root canal is, statistics on root canals in America and root canal treatment procedures. Dr. Connolly provides comprehensive dentistry and root canal treatments for his patients in a very caring manner understanding that this treatment can cause a lot of anxiety for people. He has the training and experience to be able to carry out root canals for his patients to provide relief and long lasting care. In reality, root canals can help to ultimately relieve the pain you are currently having and can help improve your life and other oral complications.

We would love to set up an examination to see if root canal treatment is best for you. Give us a call or schedule an appointment through our online form.

615.907.3456

Root Canal Statistics

• 15 percent of people in the U.S. avoid seeking critical dental procedures like root canals every year due to common myths about root canal therapy. Root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, is considered the most feared of all dental procedures, yet it’s a much better option than extracting a tooth.
• 15 million root canal procedures are performed in the U.S. annually. Root canal therapy is the most common of endodontic procedures as it is very safe and effective.
• 41,000 root canal procedures are performed every day in the U.S., relieving patients from tooth pain and decreasing their risk of dental complications from tooth infections and abscesses.
• 97 percent of root canals are successful. If done well, a root canal along with an appropriate tooth filling or dental crown can last many years. 85 percent of root canals can even last a lifetime if you take care of your teeth and see your dentist for regular professional teeth cleanings and exams.
• 10.9 million root canals are performed by skilled general dentists annually. 72 percent of dental patients trust their dentists to carry out this common, safe, and effective dental procedure every year.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is the endodontic treatment of the tooth where the dentist treats the inside parts of the tooth to help relieve pain and discomfort. Root canal treatment involves the removal of blood vessels and nerves contained in the pulp to help relieve pain when the tooth is affected by some sort of disease or complication.

The pulp contains connective tissues, blood vessels and nerves which are required to provide nourishment to the tooth as it grows but when the truth is fully grown, the pulp can be removed and the tooth will go about with its function as normal. This is possible because the tooth will now be receiving nourishment from the tissues surrounding it.

When Root Canals Are No Longer An Option

Root canal treatment is therefore necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or is infected by certain bacteria. The inflammation can arise from tooth decay, cracking teeth or dental injuries. When inflammation occurs, the pulp is heavily affected and the highly sensitive nerves contained in the pulp pick up the signals and send them to the brain where the receptors process them as pain.

If left untreated the inflammation can further affect the tooth and eat into the enamel causing complete damage of the tooth. Root canals can help save a tooth because only the affected pulp is removed. This prevents the infection from spreading further to other parts of the tooth and relieving pain from the patient.

Root Canal Procedure

Three Rivers Family Dentistry would like to provide you with the root canal treatment procedure so that you are fully aware of what to expect and to give you the peace of mind of knowing you are in good hands with Dr. Connolly.

Examination of the tooth

Dr. Connolly first examines the tooth to ascertain the severity of the infection of the pulp. Using x-rays the practitioner can see how badly the tooth is damaged and will devise the most appropriate means of treating the tooth.

Numbing of the tooth

Before starting to remove the pulp, Dr. Connolly first administers a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and make the subsequent procedures literally painless. He then uses a dental dam to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and saliva-free during the procedure.

Making of an incision

To access the affected area, Dr. Connolly makes a small opening in the crown of the tooth using a special scalpel and using special cleaning equipment, he is able to clean the pulp and remove all the matter within the cavity.

Filling the space with substitute material

Once the pulp cavity is empty, then Dr. Connolly uses special biocompatible material called gutta-percha to fill up the space left behind. The gutta-percha is held into place using a special adhesive cement.

Dr. Connolly with Three Rivers Family Dentistry has the experience and technology to provide you with the highest levels of root canal treatments. For more information, call our offices in Murfreesboro, TN or fill out our online form to set up your root canal examination.

615.907.3456

About Three Rivers Family Dentistry

Three Rivers Family Dentistry in Murfreesboro, TN is dedicated to quality care and compassion to all of our patients dental needs. Our staff of professionally trained dentists, dental hygienists, and office staff are here to serve you each and everyday with the most thorough dental services in middle TN. Dr. Mark Connolly has the experience and abilities to handle all of you and your families needs when it comes to dental and oral procedures. Our staff can help you with every day dental cleanings, implant restoration, periodontal services, dentures, root canals and more.

In addition, our dental practice is very friendly and welcomes families with children of all ages. We have an area for children to play and read in the waiting room area that your kids will love. We help to ensure the process of taking your children to the dentist is fun and caring so your children will learn to want to keep their teeth and overall oral hygiene clean.

We work with most insurance providers and will help you with any insurance claims that you may have. Our staff will handle all of the processing and forms to ensure that your insurance provider is up to date with the correct information.