A type of treatment used to save and restore a damaged tooth is called a root canal procedure. The pulp and the nerve are taken out followed by the process of cleaning and sealing the inner part of the tooth during this procedure. Without a root canal procedure, abscesses may materialize after the surrounding tissue of the tooth becomes infected. The inner part of the tooth goes through a cleaning process and then sealed with a substance named gutta-percha.
Signs & Symptoms
Pain may not be experienced right away if you have a pulp infection. But you will most likely experience swelling and pain if not treated immediately. Abscesses often form in worse cases. You will definitely benefit from a root canal treatment if you happen to experience any of the following:
Broken tooth
Swelling of the gums
Discolored tooth
Sensitivity to cold drinks lasts for more than 2 seconds
Sensitivity to heat
Extreme pain when the tooth bites on something pushed or touched.
Reasons for Undergoing Root Canal Procedure
The two main reasons why a root canal procedure is performed include infection and extreme damage to the pulp which could no longer be fixed.
If a cavity is left untreated, the existing decay will gradually erode the dentin and the enamel of the tooth until the decay gets to a root canal. The bacteria will infect the pulp when this happens. Since the antibiotics do not have the capacity to reach the infection found inside the teeth so the situation will become worse. The tooth will have a decreased blood supply resulting in a very slow healing rate when inflammation occurs.
As for pulp damage, it is often caused by tooth fracture or trauma. A root canal procedure will address the problem at hand if the damage could no longer be fixed. Unlike restorations, tooth filling, and other dental procedures, a root canal procedure can solve pulp damage problems in the long term.
It is still best to keep the natural teeth as much as possible of course. But if no treatment will be made, tooth extraction will most likely be required. When a person has a missing tooth, the other teeth often drift out of line and chewing will cause the other teeth to become overstressed. Keeping your natural teeth can help prevent the need for other treatments like bridges or implants more importantly. After going through a root canal procedure, you will have a greater chance to keep the treated tooth for life.
The number of treatments needed for a root canal procedure may vary depending on the severity of the condition. In some cases, only one treatment is required to fix the problem. Treatment may prove to be more difficult in other cases due to the position of the tooth in the mouth and some teeth have more roots. And the more roots there are in a particular tooth, the longer it will take to complete the treatment. And if your reason for having a root canal procedure is because of an infection, then you will need to visit the nearest dentist until the infection is gone completely.
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