If you’re nervous about undergoing a root canal treatment, you may consider delaying the procedure or even avoiding it altogether. However, this is a bad idea; your dentist wouldn’t recommend a root canal treatment unless it was truly necessary for protecting your oral health, so avoiding it could have serious consequences. Below is a closer look at what root canal treatment involves and why it’s best to have it performed as soon as possible.
How Does Root Canal Treatment Work?
Root canal treatment is performed when the pulp of the tooth is infected or inflamed. It involves creating an opening in the tooth so that the pulp can be removed. After the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is subsequently refilled with a biocompatible substance. A crown will most likely need to be placed later for the tooth’s protection.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Root Canal Treatment Performed?
An infection of the dental pulp will not go away on its own. Thus, if you choose not to have root canal treatment performed, the problem it is meant to address will only grow worse. This will lead to the following consequences:
- You will continue to experience severe pain in the infected tooth.
- The damage to the tooth may reach the point where it can no longer be saved, even with a root canal treatment, forcing you to have it extracted.
- The infection may start to spread beyond the roots of the tooth, causing serious issues elsewhere in your body. In particular, the bacteria causing the infection could enter the bloodstream and increase your risk for heart problems.
Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?
Many patients avoid root canal treatment because they’re afraid it will be painful, but in reality, such fears are unfounded. The first step of the procedure is to administer a local anesthetic to the area that will be treated. Thanks to the anesthetic, you don’t have to worry about any discomfort while your tooth is being worked on.
If anything, a root canal treatment will ultimately help you find relief from your pain. Getting rid of your infected pulp means you will no longer have to worry about the discomfort that it causes. Additionally, the procedure will let you avoid the most dire consequences of leaving a tooth infection alone for too long.
In short, a root canal treatment is nothing to be afraid of, but the consequences of avoiding it certainly are. If your dentist ever tells you that a root canal treatment is necessary, the best thing to do is to make arrangements to have the procedure performed as soon as possible.
About the Practice
At Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford, our team has been bringing comprehensive, high-quality dental care to local families for many decades. We strive to protect the oral health of our patients with a wide range of services, including root canal treatments for infected teeth. To schedule a consultation at our office, visit our website or call (817) 594-3806.