A root canal is a very common dental procedure. It is used to repair an extremely decayed or infected tooth. This procedure is painless because of the anesthesia administered. A root canal treatment is used to save a tooth that could otherwise have been completely removed. Ensuring your choice of root canal therapist is proven and experienced is crucial.
When is it necessary to have a root canal?
The dental procedure is only needed when a dental x-ray shows a bacterial infection has damaged the pulp. The pulp will die if it gets infected by bacteria, making the bacteria increase and spread. Here are some symptoms that show that the pulp is infected:
- Pain when biting or chewing
- A loose tooth
- Pain when eating or drinking cold or hot food and drink
As the infection progress, these symptoms will disappear, and the pulp dies. The tooth may appear to have healed, but the infection could have spread unto the root canal system. And you may get further symptoms like:
- Facial swelling
- Swelling of the gum near the affected tooth
- Pain when chewing or biting may return
- The affected tooth may become dark in color
Eventually, you may develop a toothache, making it important to visit a dentist immediately because if the tooth is infected, the pulp will not heal by itself. Things can get worse if you leave the infected tooth in your mouth.
How is the root canal procedure performed?
The bacteria need to be removed to treat the root canal infection. This can either be done by root canal treatment [removing the bacteria from the root canal system] or tooth extraction [removal of the tooth].
Usually, tooth extraction isn’t recommended because it is advisable to keep your natural teeth as much as possible. Once the bacteria have been removed, the root canal is filled and the tooth is sealed using a filling or crown. A local anesthetic is usually administered before the dentist starts the root canal treatment procedure, making the procedure painless. You could also talk to the dentist if you have fear of medical risks from odontophobia to anti-vaccine sentient.
Root canal treatment risks and complications
- Color changes
While the root canal saves your tooth from extraction, removes the infected tissue, and stops the infection from spreading, but it can take away the living part. Tooth pulp generally contains blood vessels, nerves, and tissues, and without these, some patients may experience some form of discoloration in the treated tooth.
- Tooth cracking
The treated tooth will never be strong as it was before the bacterial infection and treatment. Since the tooth basically dies during the procedure, with all the living parts taken away, teeth can potentially become very fragile. That is because one of the primary functions of the pulp is to keep the teeth moisturized and nourished.
- Reinfection
Most root canal patients usually worry about the possibility of reinfection. While reinfection is a root canal risk, your dentist should ensure that he or she stop this from happening. One of the major causes of reinfection is if any stage of the treatment was done incorrectly. That’s why it is important for you to get your root canal treatment from an experienced dentist.
