Many people avoid having root canals due to rumors that the procedure will be painful or out of fear of complications from the procedure. Root canal treatments may have been painful decades ago but with modern dental technology and anesthetics, the procedure is only about as painful as having a filling placed.
Some of the downsides of getting a root canal include: Your tooth's structure will change. Due to the nature of the procedure, it's a plain fact that your tooth's structure will not be the same after the treatment. Since tooth canals fully remove the root and pulp of your tooth, it may not be as strong as it once was.
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.
In most cases, general dentists will choose only to do simpler root canal procedures themselves. They're most likely to choose this route if the infected tooth is an incisor, canine, or lower premolar. This is because these teeth only have one large root and so require less precision and careful maneuvering.
While any dental procedure can sound painful at the onset, many people balk at the thought of getting a root canal because it requires dealing with infected nerves at the root of a tooth. This site sounds deep and invasive, and already painful to begin with.
Some pain and discomfort are normal as the anesthetic wears off. Part of the reason a root canal hurts is that it involves a “deep cleaning” of the tooth's canal. The area will be tender.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
Cons of Having a Root Canal
Dentists have to drill through the tooth in order to get to the pulp, and additional decay might have to be removed. If the tooth is too weak to function, the dentist will add a crown to it, which will strengthen the tooth and allow the patient to use it like a natural tooth.
The maxillary molars, especially the second molars, have the most complicated root canal system in permanent dentition. There are many variations in canal number and configuration in maxillary molars. Treatment may be unsuccessful because the dentist may fail to recognize the unusual canal configuration.
The only alternative to a root canal treatment is to remove (extract) the tooth from the mouth.
What is the Typical Age for Root Canal Treatment? There is no specific age for root canal treatment. If any individual is experiencing a severe tooth infection, they may require root canal therapy in Yellowknife. However, it is more likely for an individual to require root canal therapy between the ages of 12 to 65.
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.
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.
The root canal procedure is completed in two separate visits to ensure that the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out, sealed up, and protected from further damage.
Root canals can be a painful procedure. In fact, many find it to be more painful than an extraction, but the use of local anesthesia can reduce the pain.
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.
With proper care, even teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime. But sometimes, a tooth that has been treated doesn't heal properly and can become painful or diseased months or even years after treatment.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract.
A dead tooth can stay in your mouth for up to several days or months; however, keeping a dead tooth may lead to problems with your jaw and also result in the spreading of decay and bacteria to other teeth. Most dentists will recommend having the dead tooth extracted and replaced with a denture, bridge, or implant.
Though no more painful than getting a filling done for a cavity, many people fear getting a root canal because they've heard that they are painful. In reality, the most painful part of a root canal is the pain you are experiencing before the procedure is performed.
Reasons for Pain Years After a Root Canal
If a root canal tooth hurts years after failure, it is often due to root canal failure or a cracked tooth.
Because a tooth that needs a root canal usually has a large filling or is weakened from extensive decay, a crown or other restoration usually needs to be placed on it. A crown can help protect the tooth from future damage and return it to normal function.
Dental treatment alternatives to a root canal include direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, tooth extraction, dental implants, bridges, or dentures.