Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

2 Signs You Need Root Canal Treatment

29 August 2022 by Charlotte Beck

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that removes infected tissues to save natural teeth. During the procedure, the dentist removes the damaged and infected tooth pulp, cleans the area, and seals it to prevent reinfection. However, root canal treatment is not universal for all teeth infections. Below are some signs that you can benefit from root canal treatment.

1. You Have an Infected Tooth Root

The tooth root contains critical tissues, such as the nerves, nerve vessels, and blood vessels. A root canal treatment targets an infection at this part of the tooth. Tooth root infections typically occur if bacteria manage to penetrate a tooth and infect its root. That might occur, for example, due to tooth damage (such as chips or cracks) that allows bacteria to penetrate the tooth.

You might not always know if you have an infected tooth root. However, you should suspect such a case if:

• You have persistent tooth pain
• You have swollen gums and jaws
• The suspect tooth is loose
• The suspect tooth is pressure or temperature sensitive

Consult a dentist if you have any of the above symptoms or other dental problems. The dentist will diagnose your condition and advice you on the best treatment, whether it is a root canal.

2. Alternative Treatments Are Insufficient

Root canal treatment is not the only way to treat an infected tooth root. Alternatives exist that might or might not be better than a root canal, depending on your circumstances. Here are examples of alternative treatments:

• Direct pulp capping – the dentist uses a material to cover the exposed tooth pulp and promote tissue regeneration.
• Pulpotomy – the dentist removes the infected pump (preserving the nerves and nerves) and then seals it with a material.
• Extraction – the dentist removes the infected tooth and then replaces it with a natural one, such as a dental implant and crown.

You should review the pros and cons of these treatments with the dentist and choose the best one for your situation. For example, pulpotomy and direct pulp capping work best with minimal pulp exposure. In addition, extraction is inferior to root canals since natural teeth are better than artificial teeth. Extraction is only advisable if the tooth damage is beyond repair.

Your dentist will examine your teeth, discuss alternative treatments, and help you overcome your dental problem. Hopefully, you will get the treatment you deserve, irrespective of your dental problem. Follow a dentist's advice to benefit from the treatment.'To learn more, contact a dentist in your area such as Cottonwood Dental.

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