Importance of maintaining and keeping your natural teeth

You only get one set of permanent teeth in your lifetime. Once they are gone, the only option is to replace them with dental prosthetics. But maintaining your natural teeth allows them to stay in place for your lifetime. 

How does endodontics help you keep your natural teeth healthy? Learn about the important role of the endodontist in maintaining your dental and oral health. 

Benefits of Maintaining Your Natural Teeth 

There are many benefits of maintaining and keep your natural teeth in place: 

• Eat the foods you enjoy. Keeping your natural teeth healthy allows you to eat all of the foods you enjoy. You won’t have to avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods because your teeth are weak or missing. 
• Have a natural smile. Your natural teeth provide the best looking smile. While advancements in technology have made it possible to create natural looking prosthetics, nothing looks as realistic as your own teeth. 
• Prevent bone loss. Missing teeth results in bone loss in the jaw. The jaw bone gradually weakens and eventually dissolves in the absence of teeth. This leads to loss of facial structure and premature aging. It also makes it more difficult to get functional dental prosthetics. 
• Save money. It will cost you much less in the long run to maintain your natural teeth, even with restorative and endodontic procedures, than it costs to replace them with  implants and prosthetics. 

Tips for Keeping Your Natural Teeth Healthy 

The following tips can help you keep your natural teeth healthy and in place for life: 

• Brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. 
• Use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride hardens tooth enamel to make it more resistant to decay. Your dentist can prescribe toothpaste with a higher concentration of fluoride. 
• Get an electric toothbrush if you have a difficult time keeping your teeth clean. 
• Floss at least once a day between all of your teeth. Be sure to get the floss down to the pockets between your teeth and gums. 
• Go to the dentist every 6 months for dental cleanings and exams. 
• Get restorative procedures done as soon as your dentist recommends them. Have cavities filled as soon as they are discovered to prevent the need for more complex procedures. 

How Endodontics Saves Your Natural Teeth 

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in restoring the health of the teeth through treatment of the dental pulp, the soft tissue inside each tooth. When a tooth is at risk of being lost due to damage, decay, or injury, endodontic procedures may be able to save it. Endodontic procedures include: 

• Root canal therapy. A root canal is a procedure that removes the dental pulp and nerve from the inside of the tooth and replaces it with rubbery material and biological sealer. This may be done to treat or prevent infection.  
• Root canal retreatment. If a tooth becomes reinfected after a root canal, the tooth may need retreatment. 
• Apicoectomy. An apicoectomy treats an infection that stems from the root of the tooth. The tip of the root is removed and a protective cap is placed over it. 
• Resorption. Internal and external resorption means that the tooth material is breaking down. Endodontic treatment can stop the process of resorption and repair the damage. 
• Apex treatment. Problems with the roots of the teeth can be treated with apexogenesis or apexification, depending on your needs. 

Advanced Endodontics Saves Teeth 

At Advanced Endodontics our number one goal is to save your natural teeth whenever possible. We provide advanced procedures using the latest technology that give your teeth the best chance of healing and remaining in place in your mouth. 

To learn more, contact us today and schedule an appointment. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are endodontic procedures painful?

Local anesthesia is used for most endodontic procedures to ensure that patients are comfortable and feel no pain. Sedation is available to help you relax if you feel nervous or anxious about your treatment. 

Is endodontic treatment worth it? 

Endodontic treatment offers the best chance of saving a tooth that is infected or damaged in some way. Avoiding treatment could result in the loss of the tooth, and replacement options are more costly. Saving your natural teeth is always the best option for your oral health.