Video

WHEN IS ROOT CANAL THERAPY NEEDED?

Sometimes tiny canals within your tooth become infected.  This can be triggered by a variety of causes but most often an untreated cavity is the culprit.  The infection usually causes the pulp inside your tooth to also become infected.  When an infected tooth is diagnosed or there's damage to the pulp, Dr. Prouty will recommend a root canal.  

Oral bacterial infections cause abscesses.  Often times they look like swollen tissue or a pimple on your gums, but sometimes they can't be seen but with a dental x-ray. 

Abscesses usually occurs at the apex of the tooth's root.

WHAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN?  

• Tooth decay due to poor oral hygiene. 
• Failing dental work.
• Trauma caused by a fall, clenching/grinding, or even other dental treatment.
• Cracked tooth.

These are some of the ways bacteria can infect your tooth. When bacteria enter the roots, they use your nerve tissue and blood vessels as a food source. They begin to multiply and spread, and the result is a dental infection.

CAN'T I TAKE ANTIBIOTICS TO REMOVE THE INFECTION?

Oral health is vitally important to your overall health. When you are suffering from a tooth infection, you may want an easy solution such as a course of antibiotics.  However, antibiotics won't cure your tooth infection.

There are several reasons antibiotics alone will not cure the infection. The blood vessels that once supplied the inside of the tooth with your body’s antibacterial defenses have been destroyed. Therefore, the antibiotics cannot reach the inside of the tooth to cure your infection.

Due to the anatomy of the tooth, bacteria become trapped in the roots. Without proper cleaning such as through root canal therapy, the infection will remain and potentially spread to the jaw or even the brain.  Draining, cleaning, or possibly even tooth extraction is needed to fully remove a bacterial tooth infection.

                         ***ANTIBIOTICS ALONE WON'T CURE THE TOOTH***

BUT I'M NOT IN PAIN!  WHY DO I STILL NEED A ROOT CANAL?  CAN'T I JUST WAIT?

Sometimes the same issues are present as noted above, but you might not feel any pain.  This doesn't mean the tooth doesn't need treatment.  The culprit that is causing the issue still remains and must be eliminated or you risk it getting much, much worse.

It’s easy to come up with excuses for postponing a root canal procedure.  Whether it’s due to the fear of possible discomfort or the concern for how long a root canal can take—or expense—putting it off is not only delaying the inevitable, but may also be causing bigger and more costly problems down the line like the infection spreading, bone loss and tooth loss.  

                    ***PAIN IS NOT ALWAYS INDICATIVE OF DENTAL NEED***

COULDN'T THE ISSUE JUST GO AWAY ON IT'S OWN?  

While it has certainly been attempted innumerable times, waiting for a tooth issue to disappear is simply not a viable option. Even if the pain does go away, it’s not time to cancel your dental appointment.  

While it is possible for inflammation to subside and nerves to heal, the more likely scenario is that pulp tissues and nerves inside the tooth are all dead.

Root canal system infections can and will continue to get worse without help.  Addressing it promptly increases the chances of preserving your natural tooth and alleviating the discomfort you’re experiencing sooner. 

WHAT'S INVOLVED WITH ROOT CANAL THERAPY?

Either Dr. Prouty or an endodontist (root canal specialist) will perform the root canal procedure. You'll be fully numb during the procedure using a local anesthetic.  

During the procedure, all of the diseased pulp will be removed, and the canal is thoroughly cleaned with antiseptic solution.  The canals are then filled with a flexible plastic material and a temporary filling is placed. 

If there are no signs of infection over the next few weeks, a permanent filling or a crown will be placed on the tooth.  Crowns are the common choice as the root canal weakens the tooth. 

Recovery time is usually two to five days of soreness depending on the severity of the infection.

Please don’t ignore the pain you may be experiencing or postpone if it's not hurting!  Give us a call today so that we can get you back on the road to a healthy mouth!   (714) 668-9811