Do I Really Need Root Canal Therapy?
Dentists do not recommend root canals to every patient visiting them. Endodontic treatment is a specialized process to eradicate infections from inside a tooth. If you call your dentist for routine exams and cleanings, please do not expect the dentist to recommend that you undergo this treatment for no reason.
Root canals become necessary if you visit your dentist near you with complaints about experiencing severe pain when chewing or biting with a specific tooth with lingering sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, even after removing the sensation. You can expect your dentist to suggest that you might need root canal therapy to eliminate infections in the specific tooth.
You might become a victim of this treatment if you have a chipped or cracked tooth infected by bacteria reaching the soft center of the tooth, the dental pulp. In such cases, you may develop swollen and tender gums or notice darkening of your gums or develop pimples on the gums.
In the above circumstances, your Mississauga dentist will examine and take x-rays of the tooth to evaluate the damage and recommend root canal treatment as optimal for preserving your natural tooth.
The recommendation might make you quiver with fear because of the myths spread about this treatment. Unfortunately, if you neglect the dentist’s advice, the only alternative available is to have the tooth removed and look for replacements at high costs. Therefore if your dentist recommends this treatment after examining your tooth, consider the suggestion beneficial for your dental and overall health.
Root Canals Are Not Fearsome As Propagated
Strange myths are spread about root canals being fearsome and painful. Fortunately, the treatment helps relieve the severe pain you experience when eating and the sensitivity to temperatures. The treatment also ensures it restores your tooth to full functionality after recovering from the process in about a week.
When you arrive for your procedure to undergo root canal therapy in Mississauga, ON, the specialist in the practice will administer anesthesia and wait until the tooth is numb. After that, the specialist places a protective sheet over the area to isolate the tooth and keep it free from saliva.
After preparing your tooth for the therapy, the specialist makes a small opening in the tooth’s crown to expose the infected or inflamed dental pulp. Using small instruments, the specialist cleans the pulp from its chamber besides the root canals and cleans the space for a filling.
After cleaning and shaping the area, the specialist fills the canals with a rubber-like biocompatible material called gutta-percha with an adhesive cement to ensure proper sealing of the root canals. A temporary filling is also placed in the crown of your tooth where the specialist made the access hole.
The temporary filling is for the regular dentist to remove after you recover and visit them to get the tooth restored.
Can You Expect Pain After This Treatment?
Most endodontic processes are performed to help relieve the pain of toothaches from dental pulp infection or inflammation. Present-day techniques and anesthesia ensure you experience no discomfort during the treatment.
Unfortunately, if you had pain before your therapy, you will likely experience some sensitivity in the tooth for some time after the treatment. However, the discomfort is manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers or a prescription from the specialist.
Your tooth might feel different from your remaining teeth after you undergo endodontic therapy. However, if you experience intense pain or pressure lasting for over a few days, ensure that you call the specialist for advice.
Is Dental Crowns Essential after Root Canals?
The location of the treated tooth determines whether or not you need a dental crown. For example, if you underwent a root canal on a molar where biting pressures are high, you will need a dental crown to restore the tooth. However, if the treatment was for a front tooth, you can get a permanent filling from your regular dentist.
What If You Refuse to Undergo Root Canals?
If you decide to leave the tooth untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and create life-threatening situations. If you need a root canal, the infected or inflamed pulp from within the tooth needs removal without exceptions. Alternatively, you can request a specialist to remove the tooth, making yourself vulnerable to more treatments and procedures to replace your missing tooth. Instead of inviting more treatments and financial expenses, you help yourself by accepting your dentist in Mississauga, ON proposal to have root canals without fear.
If you experience the symptoms described earlier in a specific tooth and think you might need endodontic therapy, please schedule an appointment with Sherwood Forrest Dental to undergo root canals without fear and have your tooth restored as soon as possible.