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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DENTAL FILLINGS & ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?
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Dental fillings and root canal treatments are both dental procedures aimed at treating different issues within a tooth. The following are some of the differences between the two procedures.
Purpose of the procedure
Dental filling - The purpose of a dental filling is to repair a tooth that has a caries or small damage. The aim of a dental filling is to remove any decay from the tooth and fill the area with the restorative material.
Root canal treatment: - When there is an infection or inflammation in the pulp of the tooth, root canal treatment is performed. Root canal treatment benefits in removing the infected pulp and filling the root canal to help save the tooth.
Scope of treatment:
Dental filling - Fillings usually target small, localized areas where there is damage or decay, and the filling is placed on the outer surface of the tooth.
Root canal treatment: - On the other hand, root canal treatment addresses the issue inside the tooth pulp chamber and root canal. This treatment is also more extensive.
Procedure:
Dental filling - The process of restoring the tooth with a dental filling involves removing the part of the tooth that has the decay/damage and filling the area with the filling material. The filling imitates the shape of the tooth and helps restore strength and function.
Root canal treatment: - This procedure involves removing the infected area or damaged pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the root canal, before then filling the canals and sealing them off. Occasionally, a crown can also be added on top of the tooth, which provides the tooth with additional protection and strength.
Anaesthesia:
Both dental fillings and Root Canal Treatments use local anaesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding area.
To summarise, both treatments are used to restore the function of the tooth and save it. But dental fillings target localized areas of decay and damage, while root canal treatment is more extensive, addressing the tooth’s pulp by removing any infection or inflammation.
