The only alternative to a root canal treatment is to remove (extract) the tooth from the mouth.
Dental treatment alternatives to a root canal include direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, tooth extraction, dental implants, bridges, or dentures.
Metal-free dental implants use a biocompatible zirconia post to replace the tooth root. Since implants are placed in the jaw, they provide unparalleled strength and durability and can last a lifetime. The implant is topped with a dental crown to restore the overall tooth structure and complete your smile.
A good oral hygiene routine is the best way to avoid a root canal. This means flossing, brushing twice daily, and getting a regular dental cleaning. But there's even more you can do to protect your teeth since other dental emergencies, such as tooth fractures, also might require root canals.
Pulpotomy is commonly done on children, and it is performed on adults as a temporary substitute for a root canal.
Even so, we may still be able to save a tooth through a minor surgical procedure called an apicoectomy. Rather than access the diseased area through the tooth crown as with a root canal treatment, an apicoectomy makes access to the infected tissue at the root end.
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.
Unlike other human body parts, our teeth cannot heal themselves after being damaged. The sole feasible course of action is to remove the infected parts to save the natural tooth. Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!
A non-surgical root canal is a minimally invasive procedure that treats a variety of dental problems. The most common reason for this procedure is to remove any plaque and bacteria from your teeth and root canals. It helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Why are root canals necessary? 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.
Icing your cheek, on the outside of the affected tooth or with a cold compress will numb the area and most importantly, reduce swelling that is causing the pain. Drinking any tea can help sooth your aching tooth, but peppermint tea has qualities that can help numb the affected area, as well.
In short, when you need a root canal, it may feel like throbbing pain due to infection inside of the root of your tooth. A visible fistula, swelling, or temperature sensitivity might be present. Bacteria can also lead to foul-tasting drainage along the gum tissue near your root.
Root canal dangers for long-term health
The bacteria from your gums or the remnants of your infected tooth can easily spread through your bloodstream to the rest of your body and cause systemic problems.
Saltwater rinse
A saltwater rinse will kill off some of the bacteria in your mouth and irrigate your mouth. It can rinse some of the debris out of your mouth and if you have an abscess it can help break up the pus surrounding the tooth. You can use regular table salt and warm tap water to make a basic saltwater rinse.
>When you are dealing with a tooth with damaged nerves and pulp, a root canal is typically the first procedure your dentist recommends. It is not the only option though. You also have the option of having to remove the tooth. This will bring an end to any pain from the tooth as well as an infection.
In general, tooth extractions are cheaper than root canals, and they can be performed by general dentists as well as endodontists. Many people choose extraction instead of root canals simply because of the cost. However, getting a dental implant to replace your natural tooth can cost a lot of money.
Teeth that receive a root canal and then a filling and crown last about 20 years. Teeth that receive either a filling or a crown after a root canal last about 11 years. Teeth that receive no restorative work after a root canal last about 6.5 years.
If you wait to have a root canal, you're only providing that infection more time to gain strength and spread. Infection can spread from the tooth into the bloodstream, and then you have a much more serious issue than a common and routine dental practice.
If you don't complete the root canal that you started, the tooth may become infected. The infection can spread to other parts of your mouth, such as your jawbone and the surrounding tissues. It may also cause severe pain and swelling in the tooth and mouth.
If you delay root canal treatment, the oral infection continues to get worse, and it can even lead to a very serious condition called septicemia — when the localized infection from your tooth spreads through your body. This can quickly become a dangerous health situation that you want to avoid at all costs.