Root Canal Treatment
What is a Root Canal?
If you have neglected your teeth and made poor oral health choice, you are likely to develop dental decay. Though dental decay and its consequences won’t happen to you overnight, it may seem like all of a sudden you have dental issues. This is not true. Severe dental decay that leads to a root canal, occurs over time and over years of poor oral health practices. If you have not brushed your teeth routinely, flossed, or have adopted poor habits, your teeth’s health is likely to suffer.
But what is a root canal exactly?
Root canals are a type of dental treatment that is necessary if the nerve tissue of your tooth is affected by dental decay or a possible infection. Root canal therapy involves your local dentist opening the inside of your tooth and scooping out any decayed tissue (pulp) and bacteria. After the materials are removed, your dentist will take out the decayed tissue and replace it with a medicated oral filling. In order to have this type of procedure, your mouth will be fully numbed. Though many have claimed that the nerve damage to their tooth is a painful symptom of tooth decay, there are not always symptoms. In fact, you can live your life with dental decay and not even know it! That is why going to the dentist for routine check-ups is so important!
What Are the Symptoms?
Though dental decay can be non-symptomatic, most people will feel nerve damage. Why? Well, as the decay makes its way into the inside of your tooth, the nerves are triggered — which can be quite painful. In fact, most people won’t notice that they have tooth decay until they feel a very strong toothache and visit their local dentist. Of course, once they come in, they realize how bad the damage is and need to undergo root canal therapy.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS FOR POSSIBLE ROOT CANAL THERAPY:
• A fistula (pimple-like formation) on the gums.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.
• A severe toothache.
• Swelling and/or tenderness.
• Sometimes no symptoms are present.
If you are feeling any of these symptoms, you need to visit your local dentist. With the help of dental professionals, you can get a root canal to get rid of your dental decay. Without treatment, the decay will only grow and go deeper into your mouth and eventually to your jaw bone. To ensure that your jaw bone and other teeth are not affected by the decay, you need to see a dentist right away for treatment.
5 MAIN REASONS FOR ROOT CANAL THERAPY:
• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
• An infection or abscess has developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
• Injury or trauma has occurred to the tooth.
• The pulp is dying (not always symptomatic).
• Cracks in the tooth cause lasting damages.
Preventative Care
The best way to ensure that you will not need a root canal is if you practice preventative dental care What is this? Well, if you brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss, and eat a low-sugar diet, you can hopefully prevent tooth decay from happening. Tooth decay will typically occur when there is a build up of bacteria in your mouth. Brushing your teeth regularly ensure that bacteria will not build up and break down the integrity of your teeth. Bacteria will typically choose to dig deep inside your teeth, specifically entering through the deep grooves at the top of your tooth.
If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of tooth decay or a dental infection, please see us today. We have dental specialists that can inspect your teeth to determine the level of damage or decay your teeth are enduring. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
