Need A Root Canal? Know These 4 Things

Posted on

When you are suffering from an infected tooth, it may be necessary to perform a root canal on it. The infection typically happens due to not treating tooth decay, and the root becomes infected because of this. A root canal will give a dentist the ability to remove all of the tissue that is infected so it doesn't spread in your mouth. Know these 4 things about them before getting a root canal.

Why A Root Canals Is Needed

When you have an infected tooth there will be two ways to treat the problem. A root canal can be performed or the infected tooth can be pulled. Having a root canal done will keep the original tooth in its place, so you won't need to replace the tooth with an implant, dental bridge, or partial denture. The root canal procedure also removes any infected tissue that antibiotics won't remove from a deep infection. Root canals can also treat tooth abscess caused by the infection.

How A Root Canal Is Performed

A dentist will numb the nerves of the tooth to make sure you do not experience any discomfort or pain. Once the tooth has been numbed, a hole will be drilled in the middle of the infected tooth. This gives the dentist access to the canal. They remove infected tissue and decay, and then fill the hole with gutta-percha, which is a material that will dry fast and prevent any further infections. The whole procedure will take around one hour to perform.

Why A Crown Is Necessary

If you get a root canal done, a crown will be needed for the tooth afterward. The tooth is essentially dead, which can cause it to break easily since it is brittle. Having a crown will add protection to the tooth for chewing. Without a crown, the tooth will break and you'll need to remove the entire tooth.

Why A Root Canal Can Fail

Be aware that there's a possibility that the root canal can fail. Though the procedure has a high rate of success, it will fail if all the decay or infected tissue wasn't removed completely. The tooth will continue to be infected, and require an additional root canal.

When you have a tooth that hurts when chewing and you are experiencing sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures, have it looked at by a dentist. These could be signs that you need to get a root canal.


Share