Everything you need to know about getting a root canal

Many patients ask us, “What is a root canal?”, concerned that it is a complicated and dangerous procedure that they may need. Getting a root canal can be daunting, however, it could save your tooth and prevent a lot of pain in the long run. A root canal is basically the process of taking out infected pulp inside the root of a tooth and cleaning the canals to prevent further infection. This infected pulp can be painful and may be caused by gum disease or something as simple as a chipped tooth or a cavity.

Root canal process

The first step of a root canal is getting an x-ray from your dentist. This will help determine whether or not the tooth is infected and where the infection is located. Local anesthetics will be applied after examining the x-ray and an opening is made in the crown of the tooth all the way down to the roots. Small tools are used to remove the infected pulp, clean the roots and reshape them. After the roots are given shape, the space is filled with a rubbery-like material called gutta-percha. The tooth is then sealed off with a cement adhesive and typically will be capped with a temporary filling. You will then come in for a second visit with the dentist in order to have a permanent crown put on and to check the tooth and gums after the procedure.

Misconceptions

A common misconception about root canal treatment is that it’s a painful process. Rest easy, the dentist will manage any pain and make sure patients are comfortable throughout the procedure. Also remember, a root canal relieves pain from a toothache. Many patients will say that they feel no pain from the procedure and that it feels similar to getting a filling. Another misconception is that root canals can make you sick or cause infection. It has been proven that a root canal is the best option to save a tooth from possible extraction and there is no evidence that a root canal will cause illness.

Additional Information

Over 40 million root canal treatments in the U.S. are performed a year, making it a fairly common procedure. Root canals are almost always successful in saving the tooth from extraction and most last a lifetime after undergoing a root canal procedure.

To prevent ever having to get a root canal it’s important to keep up with dental hygiene. This means brushing and flossing three times a day and regular visits to the dentist. It’s also important to get cavities filled, otherwise they could become abscessed and require a root canal.

The staff at Artistic Dental are experts in root canal procedures and will make sure to treat patients as they would their own family members. If you’re suffering from tooth pain, call and make an appointment for a complimentary consultation with one of our dentists at 602.840.5400.

Heart Health and Your Teeth

February is American Heart Month, which is a very important month to recognize. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.

However – the good news is that making positive, impactful decisions involving your day-to-day health can prevent heart disease. Additionally, it’s important to know about the potential link between gum disease and heart disease.

Many health experts attest that healthy gums have various ramifications on a healthy heart, and vice-versa, most notably in the similarities between the bacteria and inflammation patterns associated with both conditions.

According to the American Heart Association, both conditions often host the same catalysts: “Periodontitis and heart disease share risk factors such as smoking, age and diabetes, and both contribute to inflammation in the body. Although these shared risk factors may explain why diseases of the blood vessels and mouth can occur simultaneously, some evidence suggests that there may be an independent association between the two diseases.”

Some of the latest research finds that gum disease has a direct link to higher risk of inflammation around the heart, which increases the risk of heart attack. It’s important to note that it’s still somewhat that research is ongoing and it does not mean everyone with gum disease will develop heart disease. However, “’The mouth can be a good warning signpost,’ said Ann Bolger, M.D., William Watt Kerr Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. ‘People with periodontitis often have risk factors that not only put their mouth at risk, but their heart and blood vessels, too.’”

Interesting food for thought – just make sure that the food you eat this month is good for your gums, as well as your heart. 

The Effects of Poor Oral Hygiene on your Health

Many people see the mouth as a part of the body that is fairly isolated from health problems that may plague our other organs. In fact, it’s probably commonplace to feel that way. We visit the doctor for checkups and any bodily problems we may be having, be they sickness or disease, and we see the dentist for checkups on the state of our teeth and gums. Rarely is there an overlap in appointments.

However, as the “gateway” to the rest of our body, our mouths can often link to many other health problems that ail us. As WebMD explains, as bacteria builds up, it makes our gums susceptible to infection. This, in turn, leads to our immune system utilizing its resources to fight infection and cause inflammation. That same inflammation can have severe ramifications to many other parts of the body, and cause severe gum disease.,.

Be it diabetes ("Periodontal disease further complicates diabetes because the inflammation impairs the body’s ability to utilize insulin”) or heart disease (gum inflammation has been theorized to cause inflammation in the blood vessels), inflammation in the mouth is by no means isolated.

, The state of your oral health can also often be a predictor of other health problems throughout the body. In an article describing the effects that gum disease can have on other areas of your body, the Mayo Clinic describes the mouth as a “window to your overall health.”

For these reasons, it’s incredibly important that (through healthy brushing and flossing habits, as well as regular visits to the dentist) we do not let bacteria buildup to dangerous, unhealthy levels within our mouths. It’s not just a pearly white smile that you might be compromising, it could be your overall wellbeing!

Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month

September marks the arrival of “More Matters Month,” a campaign introduced by the Produce for Better Health Foundation – and an opportunity for you and your loved ones to embrace a healthier diet.

  Produce for Better Health Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables and improve overall health.

Did you know that only one in seven adults eats the recommended amount of fruits every day? That ratio is even worse when it comes to vegetables – just one in ten adults eats the suggested daily amount.

Most people know that eating fruits and vegetables is important for good health, but

most of us still aren’t getting enough. More fruits and veggies amount to a great number of health benefits – including a decreased risk for type two diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Eating a healthy diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits can also help you:

• Lower your risk for heart disease and some types of cancer

• Maintain or reach a healthy weight

• Keep your body strong and active

So, now that you are reminded of the many benefits, let us help you  begin to learn  to incorporate them into your daily diet. Here are some ideas to help you and your family consume more fruits and vegetables as part of your meals and snacks:

• Keep a bowl of fruit handy where the whole family can see it.

• Cut up fruits and veggies ahead of time so they’re ready for quick, healthy snacks.

• Challenge your family to try a new veggie or fruit every week. Remember, eating more fruits and veggies can be fun – and it’s worth it!

One of the best things about adopting a diet that includes more fruits and vegetables is the variety of fresh produce you have to choose from, and they can be prepared in so many different ways! While fresh and in season is always best, you also have options with canned, frozen, or dried fruit and vegatables. The range of choices offers plenty of ways to eat healthier and to discover what you like best.

However you choose to celebrate More Matters Month, know that Artistic Dental  encourages healthy munching, as it helps build happy, healthier teeth and gums!