Root canals are perhaps the most feared dental treatments. Just like any other medical procedure, early prevention and intervention can save you from getting a root canal. In most cases, a root canal is needed when a cavity gets deep and close to the pulp (nerve) of the tooth.
Brushing and flossing are the two most straightforward ways to prevent issues that can lead to a root canal. A healthy mouth starts with keeping your teeth clean, so aim to brush at least twice a day. If you can brush after every meal or snack, that's even better. Don't skip flossing.
Dental treatment alternatives to a root canal include direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, tooth extraction, dental implants, bridges, or dentures.
Root canals are a simple procedure that are recommended to save damaged, natural teeth and prevent the need for dental bridges and implants. Root canals are necessary when the pulp, or soft tissue, inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected, which could lead to an abscess.
If the infection has seeped into the tooth's pulp, then root canal therapy becomes unavoidable. On the contrary, fillings can be used instead of a root canal if the tooth has a smaller cavity or a minor decay, which has not yet reached the pulp.
While root canals are pretty common, there are some drawbacks to having this procedure done. One of those drawbacks is that it might weaken the tooth. Dentists have to drill through the tooth in order to get to the pulp, and additional decay might have to be removed.
Irrigating the tooth cavity with Ozone gas is another alternative to root canal therapy. Ozone penetrates the tubules of the tooth beyond the drilled areas and the lateral tubules to disinfect the tooth beneath the enamel.
This includes the type of tooth, shape of the canal system, and current or past injury. While an endodontist can perform the procedure regardless of the circumstances of these aspects, general dentists will typically only do so when the conditions are less complex.
What is the Typical Age for Root Canal Treatment? There is no specific age for root canal treatment. If any individual is experiencing a severe tooth infection, they may require root canal therapy in Yellowknife. However, it is more likely for an individual to require root canal therapy between the ages of 12 to 65.
Technically, you don't always need a root canal treatment before getting a dental crown. Sometimes a dental crown improves the appearance of a stained or discolored tooth. While the dentist may stain the tooth's enamel, the inside of the tooth isn't compromised, and therefore a root canal isn't necessary.
Root canals save your teeth by getting rid of the infection and fortifying what's left of your natural tooth. The only dental alternative to a root canal procedure is having your tooth removed. Then, tooth replacement is necessary to prevent bone loss in the jaw.
For some people, this low hum of anxiety is very manageable and reveals itself through constant foot-tapping or perpetually chewed nails. For others, it's their teeth that bear the brunt of it. In fact, for many, their stress can affect their teeth so much that they actually end up needing a root canal.
An untreated root canal can also lead to dental abscesses or a life-threatening heart attack, stroke, or sepsis. Not to mention the fact that if your infection progresses to this point, you will likely be in extreme pain.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
You must undergo a root canal within a few weeks to fully eliminate the infection and save your tooth.
In many cases, a toothache is caused by a cavity that can be treated without the need for a root canal. However, we find that intense pain can often be due to an infection severe enough to warrant a root canal.
A Root Canal Counts As An Emergency Dental Treatment
A root canal is typically considered to fall under the umbrella of emergency dentistry. Tooth infections are extremely painful and uncomfortable, and they can cause serious complications if they are left untreated, including the death of the infected tooth.
Are Antibiotics a Viable Alternative to Root Canal Therapy? In some cases, a tooth infection will react well to antibiotics and make root canal therapy redundant. However, in other cases, taking antibiotics will only delay the inevitable, and the patient will have to opt for a root canal treatment in the future.
A root canal should not be scary if you get treatment from an experienced dentist. The best dentist will keep you comfortable, guide you through the entire procedure and discuss your options. If you are dealing with severe tooth pain and discomfort, do not hesitate to call our office.
One-Visit Approach
Modern tools and improved technology have made it possible to perform root canal in one visit. Also, the reasoning behind splitting the procedure into multiple sessions was to see if any flare ups occurred, and if not, it was sign you are ready for sealing.
It can take as long as five years from the time a cavity begins to develop to when the tooth needs treatment to prevent the cavity from spreading further.
However, if a tooth is severely damaged, your dentist may not be able to save it. In these cases, they will normally recommend that the tooth be removed. Dentists may recommend removal in the following circumstances: Dental injury resulting in a cracked or fractured tooth or root.
There is a statistic that 5% to 7% of teeth that receive crown restorations end up needing root canal treatment. That means that 93% or more don't need root canal. The reason that this happens sometimes is that crowns in most cases are placed on teeth that are filled heavily in the first place.