Root canal treatment often evokes in people the idea of a complex and painful operation. However, current techniques make it possible to complete this process quickly, without causing great pain. Root canal treatment is recommended when the pulp of the tooth is infected or necrotic. It is then necessary to remove the old pulp, disinfect the pulp chamber then fill the canals by proceeding to a filling. This saves the tooth and avoids going to more drastic measures such as extracting it.
In some cases, other types of treatments are recommended before moving on to root canal treatment (also known as endodontic treatment). On the other hand, at a certain point, the root canal treatment becomes necessary in order to avoid more serious consequences that would affect the person far beyond their oral health. Here are some conditions that can lead to root canal treatment:
SYMPTOMS INDICATING A NEED FOR ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Persistent pain on a tooth is one of the main signs that announce that a root canal treatment will have to be undertaken. Raw, the nerve expresses itself strongly, with exacerbated pain on contact with hot or cold. The pain can spread into the cheeks and even up to the head, causing severe migraines. Generally, the gums are also sore.
However, in some people, the opposite happens: the tooth loses all sensitivity. This indicates that the nerve is dead. It is then necessary to operate as quickly as possible before an abscess develops (due to the infection) and to carry out a root canal treatment.
ADVANCED STAGE DECAY THAT REQUIRES ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
A cavity left on its own will eventually cause a level of decay that will reach the level of the nerve of the tooth. Once the decay has reached this stage, the filling or crown alone is no longer sufficient and root canal treatment becomes necessary.
If the tooth was damaged by accidental forceful contact, the nerve may have been affected. If in doubt, an X-ray should be taken to check the condition of the root of the tooth before performing the root canal treatment.
The same applies for a fractured tooth, which was not necessarily broken by means of a direct blow. Sometimes the fracture starts out as a crack that over time progresses in size. The opening, untreated, then gives free rein to bacteria which come to attack the pulp of the tooth.
In both situations, if this part of the tooth is affected by an infection, it is difficult to go back. Antibiotics may be appropriate if the tooth is not too affected. If this is the case, once the infection is over, a crown or filling can resolve the situation. On the other hand, if the antibiotics do not fulfill their task, a root canal treatment will have to be completed quickly
Certain conditions can affect the dental pulp. Take for example: resorption at the root of the tooth, which sometimes appears following orthodontic treatment. The root of the tooth then undergoes wear which prevents it from blocking the bacteria properly. If the result is irreversible, root canal treatment will be mandatory.
HOW TO REACT WHEN YOU FEEL PAIN
As soon as you feel abnormal pain in the mouth, it is important to consult. Pain is a vague symptom that can be associated with a variety of ailments. Some of these problems will need to be fixed with root canal treatment, while others can be fixed in other ways. The only way to be absolutely certain is to consult your dentist. The latter will be able to determine whether the operation is necessary or not.