3 Common Reasons You May Need Root Canal Surgery

16 January 2023

A root canal, also known as endodontic treatment, is used as a last resort to save your natural tooth.

Root canal treatment can be required for many reasons. The need for it doesn’t usually happen overnight. In some cases, it can take years for a root canal to become necessary. It will happen sooner, though, if you ignore the warning signs.

Thus, if you are displaying symptoms and signs, you should contact your dental team as soon as possible. Issues left untreated can spread and cause other health concerns that will affect the rest of your body.

Some symptoms you should look out for are:

  • Tooth pain, especially when chewing or placing the tooth under pressure, such as grinding your teeth when sleeping or in stressful situations. 
  • Prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold foods and liquids, even after the substance is no longer present in the mouth.
  • Discolouration of the tooth, such as turning yellow, dark brown, or even black.
  • Swelling in the gums and surrounding tissues, cheek, or tongue.
  • Recurring spots on the gum line.  

Sometimes, symptoms are not easily detected, but can be seen on dental x-rays during a regular visit. 

Your health and smile are important; they make up who you are. That’s why you should listen to what your mouth is telling you and call your dental team for regular checkups.

In this article, we’ll explore the top three reasons behind a root canal and look at ways you can prevent it and protect your smile. 

1. Bad breath or an infection

One of the most common signs that indicate you could require a root canal is a persistent and recurring infection. Infections are a build-up of harmful bacteria that eat away at the pulp inside the tooth and, if left untreated, can spread to the gums and the rest of your body.

While not every infection is obvious, such as pus within the mouth, it also presents itself as pain that worsens over time.

This prevents you from chewing on the side with the infected tooth, and it can even hurt to brush and floss. Painkillers keep the pain to a minimum, but it returns when they wear off.

If left for too long, it can cause the tooth and the pulp inside to decay and die. This can lead to halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, and no amount of brushing can hide the smell.

A root canal is performed to prevent the spread of the infection and preserve the tooth and the teeth surrounding it.

2. Root resorption

Root resorption is a condition that happens as a result of trauma, injury, or aggressive tooth movement during other orthodontic procedures. 

Essentially, the tooth structure begins to dissolve. In other words, the body starts to eat away at the tooth itself. In these cases, little can be done to prevent the loss, so a root canal is the best practice.

As it’s always best to preserve the natural tooth, a root canal can be done as soon as the problem is detected. That way, it will help ensure the tooth is treated and can prevent the need for replacement with an implant or other prosthetic.

3. Cavity, fill, repeat

Repeated dental procedures on the same tooth or adjacent teeth can wear it down, thus weakening the structure, and compromising the gum and pulp inside. It can also indicate other underlying complications if the same tooth needs work every time.

Deep decay, which the dental team has no other way to reach, will require a root canal. This can be caused by a number of different factors, such as trauma, genetic or biological factors, or even poor dental hygiene.

The root canal would help to remove the infection and decaying tissue, allowing the dental team to preserve the remaining structure for as long as possible.

Prevention Is Always Best

Prevention is always the key to a healthy smile. Regular dental visits for routine checkups will allow your dental team to see any potential issues before they become a problem.

Early detection allows for quick treatment or observation to ensure invasive treatments are delayed for as long as possible. 

A fantastic oral hygiene routine at home will complement your dental team’s efforts to keep your smile fresh and glowing.

Regular brushing and flossing will go a long way to staving off any problem, and will also allow you to see if there are any changes in your mouth that you need to speak to your dentist about. 

If you require an endodontist in Oakville, then Oakville Place Dental Office has you covered. Paired with treatments such as a crown, root canals now have a very high success rate, and can prevent the need for further treatments. Pain-free and quick, you can be seen and treated all in one day.

Your Endodontist Speciality Team

Oakville Place Dental Office has the facility and state-of-the-art technology to ensure your smile is protected and preserved. 

We have a highly trained and professional team that will attend to your needs as soon as you call. They will get you in and seen as soon as possible, and even on the same day with longer hours to accommodate your schedule and needs. 

For the procedure itself, Oakville Place Dental Office uses advanced Dental Anesthesia and Dental Vibe, which is non-invasive to help reduce pain, allowing the dental team to work quickly.

With CEREC technology on-site, we can create the crown while the tooth is being cleaned and decontaminated. This means that once the tooth has been filled with a biomaterial and sealed, the crown can be placed over the top, thus finishing the treatment in one visit.

If you need a root canal or any other emergency dental treatment, reach out to our staff today at 647-496-2721 or contact us online, and let’s get your smile back.

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