Nothing looks, feels or functions like your natural teeth. Regular brushing and flossing, along with six-month exams and check-ups with your dentist, can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. But have you ever wondered why you should save your natural teeth?

Read on to learn why you should do everything you can to protect your teeth, and how our team of specialized doctors at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado can help save your natural teeth.

Why You Should Protect Your Smile

Even people with the best dental habits experience problems with their teeth. Sometimes your teeth may have an infection or disease and will need additional care. When possible, you should always consider treatments to save your teeth. It’s easy to assume that having a tooth pulled isn’t a big deal –– especially if no one can see it –– but you will know your tooth is missing and it will negatively impact your quality of life.

Don’t get a tooth pulled because you think it’s easier or more cost-effective than pursuing treatment to save your tooth. Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift, affect your ability to properly chew, and even ruin your smile. Tooth extraction often is more painful than the infection itself, and replacing an extracted tooth with an artificial one requires additional dental visits that can quickly add up.

Modern endodontics offers advancements in technologies, procedures, and materials, giving you many treatment options to save your natural teeth. It’s important to understand your choices and how they’ll impact both your tooth and your future dental health. It’s always best to save your natural teeth whenever possible and endodontic treatment should be your first choice for the best health and cosmetic results. Endodontists are specialists in saving teeth. They can evaluate your condition and provide the best treatment plan to help you save your teeth for a lifetime.

Here are some tips for protecting your smile saving your teeth:

• When given a choice between tooth extraction and root canal treatment, always opt for a root canal. No other dental device –– including a denture, bridge, or implant –– will look, feel, and function as well as a natural tooth.
• Act immediately when you experience symptoms of swelling or pain. Most endodontists can accommodate emergency cases, even on weekends, ensuring you’ll be seen quickly.
• If your dentist recommends tooth extraction, ask whether the root canal is an option.
• If you’re told root canal is not an option, ask why and request a referral to an us at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado or find a practice near you.

Root canal treatment from an endodontist is virtually painless and often leaves you with less discomfort during recovery than if you have your natural tooth extracted. Thanks to modern techniques and effective anesthesia, patients who experience root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have a tooth extracted.

How Endodontic Treatment Can Save Natural Teeth

It’s necessary to have endodontic or root canal treatment when the inside of your tooth (the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected as a result of deep decay, repeated dental procedures, faulty crowns, or a crack or chip in the tooth. Trauma to your tooth may also cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

When you undergo a root canal or other endodontic treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Afterward, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection and will continue to function like any other tooth.

Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.

When you need endodontic treatment, call a team of specialists you can trust. Our team here at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado will be happy to talk through any concerns you have regarding your treatment and help you on your way to a healthy, beautiful smile. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation at our Colorado Springs or Pueblo locations.