Endodontic Treatment in Gambrills, MD
Most tooth decay occurs on the exterior of your teeth, in the form of cavities. Occasionally, however, decay breaches into the interior of the tooth, causing a potential infection of the interior pulp chamber, putting the tooth itself at risk.
These infections can be painful, and often require immediate care. Patients in the Gambrills, MD area can receive quick, expert endodontic care from Dr. Vicki R. Bingham-Lester.
Dr. Bingham-Lester is board-certified and has years of experience performing low-impact root canals on patients with damaged, decayed, or infected teeth in their lower and upper arches. If you need endodontic care for a molar, she will use her connections in the Gambrills area to refer you to a skilled specialist who can perform your root canal. She will oversee your recovery and help you navigate any questions or concerns.
Root Canal
Root Canal – root canal therapy is a very common procedure. It has a reputation of being undesirable and painful, but when done properly, it is actually painless. Every tooth in your mouth is composed of a crown and a root. When a cavity or bacteria penetrates the tooth, its root and its nerves become irritated. As a result the bacteria within the pulp cavity needs to be removed and cleaned in order to restore the tooth to its healthy state. Following the procedure, the tooth is fragile and consequently is restored with a natural crown for a lifetime of durability. Root canals have a success rate of 95% or greater. Most root canals are diagnosed by patient’s sensitivities to a specific tooth. Be sure to consult your dentist if any symptoms or discomfort occur.
Root Canals Demystified
In the past, root canals have gotten a bad rap. The truth is, when receiving endodontic care from an expert like Dr. Bingham-Lester, root canals are a relatively low impact procedure with minimal pain and a quick recovery.
Whether performed by Dr. Bingham-Lester or another specialist, your root canal will begin with an X-ray, which gives the doctor a sense of the extent of the damage. After that, the area will be numbed and isolated with a soft polymeric material, allowing your doctor to work on the site without impacting the surrounding teeth, tongue, or tissue. Using a dental drill, your doctor will open the tooth and remove any diseased or infected pulp, nerves, or other material. The root canal is cleaned, sterilized, and filled with filling material. That filling is then capped with a natural-looking crown, making the site invisible to the glance.
Patients will notice immediate relief, and any post-procedure discomfort is temporary and treatable in most cases with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen.
If you are experiencing discomfort or pain, or just want to learn more about your options, call Dr. Bingham-Lester for a consultation today at (410) 885-6522.
