What Happens If You Don’t Get a Root Canal?
Modern dentistry provides various options for restoring lost and worn-out teeth and preventing further damage to teeth and the oral cavity. The teeth are one of the essential structural parts of the body. Apart from chewing the food, teeth help to talk distinctly. Teeth are equally essential to improve the aesthetic value and boost your self-confidence.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is a modern restorative dentistry method used to repair and save a worn-out or impacted tooth. Endodontic treatment refers to the treatment of the inside of teeth. Derived from the Greek word “endo” implies inside, while “odont” is the Greek word for teeth. Root canal treatment focuses on treating the inside of the teeth.
The inside of the teeth consists of a pulp that houses a network of delicate nerves and blood capillaries. Repeated dental procedures, dental trauma, periodontal infections, a large dental filling, cracks or chips, and cavities might cause irritations in the nerves and blood capillaries. Bacterial activities can cause the pulp to be damaged.
The dentist removes the decayed nerves and pulp during a root canal treatment and disinfects the location before sealing the hollow cavity with dental sealants. The nerves lying under the teeth are not that vital apart from giving the sensation of hot and cold food and beverages.
Signs That You Need Root Canal Treatment
Root canal causes are numerous. There are several symptoms signifying that you need a root canal treatment.
Persistent Pain
Persistent pain in the teeth, mostly while chewing, is evident that you need root canal treatment. You might also experience deep pain below the gum line or in other jaw areas. The persistent pain might be continuous or can reoccur after a few days.
Sensitivity to Heat and Cold
If your teeth experience sharp pain or a dull sensation on a regular measure while eating hot and cold food and drinks, you surely need a root canal treatment. The sensitivity is a clear indication of infection.
Discolored Teeth
The discoloration is a sign of underlying infections or damage to the pulp. Inadequate blood flow causes the pulp to die and leads to discolored teeth.
Swollen Gums
Inflamed gums and throbbing pain near the teeth’s base can signify the requirement for root canal treatment. The inflammation can be caused by acidic wastes released from dead pulp tissues. A tooth abscess, gum boil, or pimple indicates the need for root canal treatment.
What Happens When You Do Not Get Root Canal Treatment?
Whenever you are diagnosed with an infection of the gums, it is pertinent to undergo root canal treatment. Although the pain can be minimal, the risk of spreading infection is enormous. If left untreated, the infection can rapidly spread from the infected tooth to the gums and the jawbones and infect the surrounding pulp.
Untreated infected pulp can cause tooth abscesses and contribute to life-threatening heart attack, sepsis, or stroke. You cannot ignore the persistent pain in the oral cavity too. The dentist recommends root canal treatment when extraction of the tooth is the only other option. It is always better to save the natural teeth. But you might lose them if you do not opt for root canal treatment.
The pain might often disappear, giving a wrong notion that the infection might have healed on its own. But actually, the underlying nerves have died, nullifying the sensation of pain. The infection can be live underneath the teeth and can spread rapidly.
Aftercare of Root Canal Treatment
A treated root canal treatment can last lifelong with proper aftercare. Practicing good oral hygiene is the primary step toward maintaining the root canal treatment. Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once are mandatory.
Avoiding food and beverages with high sugar content is a good practice. Not chewing hard foods or biting nails after a root canal treatment is recommended. Infection after a root canal treatment is rare, and red, warm, swollen tissues and discharge of pus are some of the root canal infection symptoms.
It is better to visit the dentist once such symptoms surface. If you are looking for root canal treatment in Markham, ON, New Delhi Dental can be your destination. We provide emergency dental care through experienced and family-friendly dentists.