Tooth Nerve Damage and How It Is Fixed Tooth nerve damage can cause a great deal of problems throughout your day, whether it is through discomfort or pain while eating/drinking. Fillings and root canals are the two main dental procedures that allow dentists to address this issue.
Fillings
Minor nerve damage resulting from a cavity or small fracture is typically addressed with fillings, which are also used as an initial treatment in many cases.tooth nerve damage (ad) In this process, the dentist cuts off the decayed part of your tooth and either fills it with a material such as dental cement. This will close off the area of inflammation and keep it from continuing to irritate the nerves. Fillings are not as invasive and most can be done in one day, which is good for someone who does get too much pain.
Root Canals
On the other hand, root canals are done for severe cases where some or all of a nerve is damaged from infection. This surgery is done by removing the bad nerve and pulp in your tooth. In addition to sterilizing the inside area as described above, a dentist rescloses that up again for preventing future contamination. While root canals seem scary, they are an important procedure for saving a tooth and avoiding extraction if the structure is compromised.
Additional Considerations
Fillings and root canals are treatments, but the extent of nerve damage determines whether or not other interventions are necessary. For instance, medications (prescription) can aid in pain management and the return of nerve function. Surgery, in some cases surgeries may be needed to alleviate pressure on nerves or repair damaged nerve directly.
Preventative Measures
Paying attention to oral hygiene including regular brushing and flossing along with dental checkups can go a long way toward preventing nerve damage in the first place. This is where early intervention comes in — if we tackle these problems when they first arise, before the issues become even bigger and cause more headaches down further on, wouldn’t that be a godsend?
Keith Silver, DMD Dr. Keith Silver has a history volunteering to help improve the community while completing his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital and during his time in Venezuela with the Peace Corp.Documenting over 39 years of stories flowing through national publications such as GQ, The New York Times, Redbook,…(Read full bio) Similar Posts In Conclusion Being aware about what tooth nerve damage is and available treatment options truly helps mitigate pain helping you on your journey towards relief from it all.