A root canal is a common solution for issues that involve tooth pulp. There are many reasons to carry out a root canal. This is a procedure that can be completed in one or two visits to the dentist. The tooth will be examined using X-rays so that the dentist has a good understanding of the issue.
In a root canal procedure, the tooth is numbed and an opening is made on the crown so that the pulp chamber can be cleaned. After the pulp chamber is cleaned and shaped, the root canal will be filled with a biocompatible material to seal it. A temporary filling will be placed close to the opening that will be removed and replaced with a crown or any other form of restoration. There are many issues that will require a root canal treatment. The most common reason is to deal with an infection in the tooth pulp. In the procedure, the dentist removes infected pulp so that it doesn’t have a chance to spread. During the procedure, the dentist will check if there is any indication of nerve damage. You may need to start a course of antibiotics to fight the infection.
The infection of the pulp is killing the tooth. If you don’t take action, it will lead to the loss of the tooth. The dentist will remove any damaged parts of the tooth during the procedure but there will be a good chance that you are able to keep the tooth. Some people believe that a root canal can heal itself. There is no evidence to support this assumption. The best approach to saving the tooth is a root canal procedure. If you ignore the problem, it will not go away and you will experience further issues that will lower your quality of life. While there will be some soreness after the root canal procedure, it will not be permanent after it has healed. But if you don’t proceed with treatment, the pain you feel will get worse. Most of the time, people are hesitant of undergoing a root canal procedure because of the pain or discomfort they will feel during and immediately after the procedure. But this will pale in comparison to the pain of an untreated infection.
The infection of the tooth pulp can also spread to healthy pulp and cause more damage. It can also weaken the dentin over time which is the layer of the tooth that surrounds the tooth pulp. Once this happens, the infection can spread to the gums. A gum infection can give rise to a great deal of pain and discomfort. Your gums will start bleeding and the infection can lead to the breakdown of tissue and weakening of bone structure. When your gums are infected, then you are at risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body as well such as the immune system, nervous system and the heart. This is a slow process but you need to consider whether you are prepared to risk it. The cost of a root canal procedure is a lot less compared to the cost of rectifying all the issues that arise from an infected tooth.