How Long Can You Delay a Root Canal?
Are you unsure about the best kind of treatment to benefit your dental health? Fortunately, you never have to figure such things out by yourself. Dental experts exist for such reasons. By taking just one look at your dental health, a dentist near you can help resolve your problems by recommending one dental procedure. Many of the patients who think they need dental extractions, for instance, end up retaining their teeth by opting for root canal treatments.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
It is a dental procedure in endodontic dentistry performed to save a natural tooth. Root canal procedures preserve natural teeth by treating them from the inside out. Usually, root canal specialists focus on the internal layers of teeth that are diseased or damaged. If your tooth can be restored from the inside, there is no need to have it removed. The primary target of the procedure is the root canal. Once the damaged blood vessels, connective tissues, nerve endings, and other soft tissues are removed from a diseased tooth, the mature natural tooth remains healthily intact on the jawbone.
Why You May Need a Root Canal Treatment
Root canal dentists only recommend these treatments to patients who need them. Usually, your dentist will have determined a great chance for saving your natural teeth, to prevent a tooth extraction procedure. Some of the reasons why you may require a root canal treatment are:
- Dental decay – severe dental decay can significantly damage the structure of your tooth. However, if the decay is not much advanced, a root canal procedure can help save your tooth.
- Severe tooth pain – pain in your tooth means that the nerve endings thereof are diseased or damaged. To treat your toothache, therefore, your dentist will recommend removing the damaged nerves in your tooth.
- Abscessed tooth – refers to the formation of a pocket of pus at the roots of teeth. An abscessed tooth occurs due to a lingering infection in your root canal.
- Cracked or broken teeth – after a dental injury, it may just be the structure of your tooth that is compromised. However, in some cases, a broken or cracked tooth can result in dental pain that goes deeper than the surface level.
The Conditions That Signal That You Need a Root Canal Therapy
You cannot always be sure that you require a root canal procedure until your visit a dentist near you. However, some of the following symptoms should signal you that you may be a prime candidate for an endodontic procedure:
- Pus in your gums
- Severe toothaches
- Increased tooth sensitivity – that continues for a prolonged period.
- Discoloration on your teeth – noticed as a darkening or browning of part of your tooth enamel.
- Swollen, tender, and reddened gums
- Bad breath
Reasons You Should Not Delay a Root Canal Therapy
If your dentist recommends getting a root canal, you must do it as soon as possible. The reason is that dental issues tend to worsen when left untreated. For instance, if you have a lingering infection in your mouth, it will not stay in one area. Instead, it begins to spread, increasing the risk of infecting other healthy tissues in your mouth. Besides, the longer your delay starting your endodontic treatment, the more likely you will need a dental extraction. Such are circumstances that send you to a dental ER for urgent care.
Is Root Canal Treatment Painful and How Should You Deal with It If Pain Occurs?
One of the most common questions we encounter at Talent Dental has to do with concerns about high pain levels during root canal procedures. While this is a valid concern, it should not overwhelm you. Our dentists in Rancho Cucamonga ensure that patients undergo painless root canal procedures thanks to local anesthesia and sedation dentistry. Your mouth will remain numb throughout your treatment, assuring you of no pain.
However, after your root canal procedure, you may experience soreness and discomfort when the numbing effect wears off. The good news is that we prescribe pain medication to help you manage discomfort and soreness, particularly during the first two days of recovery.