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!
Can a tooth that needs a root canal heal itself? Unfortunately, the infected pulp of the tooth will not heal on its own and requires a root canal to properly be treated.
The short answer is no, a tooth that needs a root canal cannot heal itself. The long answer is fairly straightforward. The infected tissue inside a tooth cannot heal by itself and will only get worse over time if left untreated. Even if you experience no pain, you should still seek treatment.
Dental treatment alternatives to a root canal include direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, tooth extraction, dental implants, bridges, or dentures.
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.
You must undergo a root canal within a few weeks to fully eliminate the infection and save your tooth. In general, a root canal typically takes about two hours to complete, but it can require subsequent visits depending on the severity of the damage.
When you have tooth pain such as a tooth infection, antibiotics can go a long way in helping to address the infection, but unfortunately, antibiotics cannot completely heal an infected tooth. What's more, if you're dealing with an infected root canal, antibiotics really are not going to cut it.
Nerve Damage Does Not Heal Itself…
Unlike most physical injuries where rest helps to heal, this isn't the same for tooth nerve damage. There may be times where a dentist could identify techniques to reverse minor nerve pain, but only when there is mild inflammation.
If the tooth decay has penetrated into the pulp of the tooth, it is likely that a root canal will be required to clean the infection from the tooth. If the tooth decay has not escalated to the pulp, chances are that the cavity can be repaired with the use of a simple filling.
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.
Accumulation of unwanted materials: Cholesterol crystals can accumulate and irritate the tissues where the root canal was done, as well as scar tissue or cystic lesions. Immune system response: The procedure can cause an overactive immune response in your body, causing negative health impacts.
Infection Can Spread
For example, if the infection is located in the root of the tooth, it can spread to other teeth and to the jawbone. This would lead to an increase of pain. The worst case of an infection spreading could occur if spread to the brain. If this occurs, it could lead to death.
If you feel pain in your tooth while you're drinking or eating something hot or cold you might need a root canal. The sensitivity can manifest itself as a sharp pain or a dull ache, and if you can feel it for a longer period of time, even after you finish drinking or earing.
The Consequences of Avoiding a Root Canal
If the infection is concerning and left untreated it can cause you to lose your tooth or part of your jaw or even lead to dental abscesses or a life-threatening stroke, sepsis, or heart attack. As the infection progresses so will the pain which will be excruciating.
Most antibiotics like Amoxicillin are not viable to cure a root canal infection. Once the disease has reached its roots, it means the blood vessels with antibacterial defenses have broken down. Hence, antibiotics cannot penetrate inside the tooth into the root where the problem lies.
Causes of Tooth Nerve Pain
Causes of nerve pain in teeth that affect the pulp include a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth, tooth decay or infection, a recent tooth filling, and pressure from clenching or grinding your teeth.
Apply a cold compress to the aching tooth for 10 to 15 minutes to help numb the area. If your tooth is too sensitive, you can apply the ice to the outside of your mouth near the tooth.
Delaying a root canal procedure can cause even more discomfort down the line as the infection is likely to spread. Leaving an infected root canal system untreated can result in an abscessed tooth, the pain of which can be incapacitating—and complications that can be serious, even life-threatening.
There is no possible way to cure a cavity once it has reached the inner dentin layer of a tooth. The only sure method to remove a cavity and keep it from spreading is by visiting your dentist and having them remove the damaged area for you by performing a filling procedure.
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.