There?s a lot of words and procedures that come to mind when thinking of dental hygiene. While our patients have heard of the procedures, we often find that there are many misconceptions about what these procedures entail and what has caused them. To set the record straight, we wanted to give you the lo-down on what some of the most frequently occurring services are all about, starting with cavity fillings vs. root canals.
What is a cavity filling?
If your Krengel dentist locates a cavity, they have found an area on the tooth?s surface where bacteria has caused the enamel to become weak and decay. In order to get rid of the cavity, bacteria and damage to the tooth, your dentist may recommend a dental filling. This dental filling is a way to restore the tooth damage. During a filling, your Krengel Dental dentist will first ensure your comfort by numbing the tooth and surrounding area before removing the decayed material, cleaning out the cavity, bacteria and affected area. Once cleaned out, a filling material is used, closing up any open spaces, keeping bacteria from entering the clean tooth. Your dentist will then polish the tooth to get it back to its normal shape.
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a different type of restoration treatment that your Krengel Dental dentist will suggest when the extent of damage to the tooth has reached the tooth nerve. Once a nerve is damaged, a root canal is necessary to not only restore the tooth, but to keep any infections in the tooth pulp from spreading through the mouth. Similar to the filling procedure, your dentist will first numb the tooth and surrounding areas. The dentist will then remove the nerve tissue and blood vessels in the tooth, performing a deep clean in the root canals before sealing the tooth with filling materials. This treatment keeps the tooth from future infection and treats any pain or sensitivity caused by the damaged nerve.
While these procedures can be intimidating and undesirable, restoring damage to your tooth is the only way to keep your teeth healthy and avoid more severe procedures. If you notice any sensitivity to hot or cold foods, aching pain or pain in response to pressure on your tooth, call your friendly Krengel Dental team at 952-888-1311. We will put you in the best hands and take great care of you.
