There are many different dental procedures for enhancing your smile and improving tooth functioning. For instance, root canals can 
preserve damaged or decaying teeth and restore normal functioning, while dental implants replace missing teeth and fill out your smile. At Cox Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. James Cox and Dr. Adam Cox are your Jasper, AL family dentists for root canals, dental implants and other dental procedures.
Root Canals
Root canals provide a means of preserving teeth that might otherwise require extraction. Such teeth include those with damage to the dental nerve and those with severe decay resulting in the formation of an abscess below the tooth root. In either case, the root canal procedure involves cleaning out decayed or dead tissue inside the tooth, then sealing the tooth with a filling. Cleaning out the tooth and filling it in strengthens the tooth and restores normal functioning. The benefits of root canal treatment include:
- Preserving the natural teeth and avoiding extraction.
- Improving oral health by removing infected tissue.
- Strengthening teeth weakened by decay or damage to the dental nerve.
- Restoring normal tooth functions, such as eating, chewing and biting.
- Minimizing the strain on surrounding teeth previously compensating for weaker ones.
Dental Implants
Dental implants restore your smile by replacing teeth that are missing. There are three parts to a dental implant: the metal implant, an abutment and a crown. The metal implant is installed below the gum line, like a tooth root, and is drilled into the jaw bone. The implant anchors everything in place. The crown, often made from porcelain, sits above the gum line and serves as the replacement tooth. The abutment joins the crown to the implant.
The benefits of dental implants include replacement of missing teeth and restoration of normal biting and chewing functions. Dental implants can also improve speech by correcting tongue placement when speaking once the gaps from missing teeth are filled in. Additionally, once installed, dental implants are permanent and will not slip out of place, as can happen with dentures or some other tooth replacement alternatives. Your Jasper family dentist can help you decide if dental implants are the right tooth replacement option for you.
Root canals and dental implants are excellent options for preserving and enhancing your smile, as well as restoring normal tooth functioning. To find out if a root canal or dental implants can benefit you, schedule an appointment with either Drs. James and Adam Cox, your Jasper, AL family dentists, by calling (205) 384-4000.