Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures offered in TLN Family Dental Clinic, and with that in mind, it’s worth looking into why they’re necessary to maintain healthy teeth. Dental conditions like tooth infection, periodontal disease, or cavities can all be treated with root canals.
Root canal therapy involves the removal of tissue that is encasing the tooth and the subsequent placement of a filling material to protect it. In fact, root canal procedures are mainly used to treat infections in teeth, but can also be used when there’s a cavity or a dental problem that won’t allow the tooth to function normally.
Here are the common reasons for you to consider doing root canal therapy.
- Deep decay
A deep decay is characterized by the erosion of the enamel of the root. Such a condition leads to a dangerous situation where blood and pus may enter the canal and cause infection. If left untreated, this can lead to abscesses that will need treatment, like draining and cleaning. A root canal therapy might be necessary to save your tooth in such a condition.
- Extensive dental work
A root canal therapy is often needed when dental practices need extensive dental work. For instance, a crown that needs to be placed on a tooth gently can destroy the remnants of the old crown or filling material. The tooth might also be filled with a composite material, which can destroy the tooth as well. A root canal therapy will replace the old and damaged filling material with a new one that will serve its purpose for some time.
- Oral trauma
If you have undergone any oral trauma or if you are developing dental pain in one half of your mouth, then you should consult your dentist as soon as possible. It is possible that root canal therapy might be needed to treat the tooth that has become damaged. Otherwise, a more serious medical condition can arise and you might end up losing the tooth, if it’s not treated properly.
- An injury to a tooth, like biting down on an ice cube
A serious tooth injury, like when you bite down on an ice cube, can cause the tooth to become damaged. A common example is when a crack appears on the tooth or when there is a loosening of one or more filling materials. This will result in infection, pus formation, and oral pain. In this case, a root canal therapy might be needed to bring your tooth back to normal.
