When does a Root Canal Treatment become crucial?

Root canal treatment has been a lifesaver for many people who were facing the prospect of having a tooth extracted due to infection reaching the pulp (the soft part inside the tooth). Modern technology and advanced research have assisted in changing the minds of dentists and the general public. Root canal therapy is now a viable and widely acknowledged therapeutic option.

Modern root canal treatment is a sophisticated procedure and is nothing like old sayings. It's similar to getting a filling; depending on your tooth's health and other factors, you may only need a couple of sessions to get it done. Root canal therapy is safe, quick, and very effective. In a short time, you'll be able to eat normally and smile widely again.

"Homework, Root canals, and deadlines are the important things in life, and only when we have these major dramas taken care of, can we presume to look at larger questions."

Cynthia Heimel

Any problem affecting a tooth's pulp requires endodontic treatment as the most effective course of action. Your dentist's recommendation of root canal therapy is, hopefully, an indication that you can save the tooth. To better understand why a dentist would recommend root canal therapy, let's take a look at the most critical determining factors:

Infections

Standard root canal therapy aims to provide the dentist access to the pulp to remove the affected tissue and stop the infection from spreading. The dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to kill any remaining bacteria before filling and capping the affected tooth. Your dentist will also assess any nerve injury and further enamel damage.

Cavities

During regular dental check-ups, you catch the cavities in good time; root canal therapy is the safest and most effective approach to keeping the tooth alive unless you want to risk losing it. While it's true that the dentist will remove the decaying or damaged areas, this procedure will increase the patient's chances of successfully retaining the tooth for a more extended time.

Tooth Abscess

When a tooth's pulp becomes infected, it may spread to the bone and soft tissues around the tooth root, complicating treatment and causing an abscess. This blister may cause pain, swelling, and poor taste in the mouth around the affected tooth. Root canal treatment is essential to rescue the tooth from infection in the tooth, bone, and pulp. Tooth extraction is, unfortunately, the only other option.

Extreme heat or cold sensitivity

Every person has a baseline amount of sensitivity to heat and cold. However, if you're getting more sensitive after consuming cold or hot, take action promptly and visit your dentist right away. In most cases, infection near the tooth's root suggests an issue with the tooth itself. Here, saving the tooth necessitates root canal therapy to prevent future deterioration.

Gum Infections

If your dental pain comes and goes and you neglect it, the present infection will do more harm than only weaken the pulp left. The pain level may startle you if you've never had a gum infection. Dentin will become brittle, and the infection may extend to the gums if left untreated.

Additionally, infected gums do more than bleed a bit. Over time, they may deteriorate tissue and even potentially compromise bone strength. Doing nothing might have costly long-term consequences. When you compare what may happen to the relatively cheap cost of a root canal, it's wise to get the operation done now to avoid the discomfort and expense of more extensive dental surgery later.

Dental Restorations

Each restoration causes stress to the tooth and pulp, particularly in large, in-depth fillings. In extreme cases, this might result in a disease known as chronic pulpitis, in which the tooth pulp remains inflamed for an extended period. Eventually, pulp death may occur, making root canal therapy crucial to preserve the tooth. 

Moreover, cracks in old fillings or crowns can also bring oral bacteria or infection inside the pulp. The need for a root canal, in this case, is obvious.

Overview

Root canal therapy may be necessary for various medical reasons, but keeping the natural tooth wherever possible is always the better option. The benefits of endodontic treatment include a restored ability to smile confidently, eat all your favorite foods without fear, and reduce the frequency with which you'll require future dental work. Taking good care of your tooth and crown after root canal therapy should last the rest of your life.

Contact your Pinole dentists, Dr. Azadeh Hosseini and Dr. Ghazal Hosseini at Top Pinole Dental today for more information on Root Canal Treatment.

Resource:

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.