There are many misconceptions about root canals, starting with the idea that it will be a painful, complex, and complicated process. First, a root canal is designed to relieve pain caused by an infected or abscessed tooth. And while this endodontic treatment is more intensive and less common than a cleaning or a filling, the experienced staff at any Empire Dental Arts affiliated practices perform these every week. Discover the signs that might indicate the necessity of a root canal, the habits or background that might make you a more likely candidate for a root canal, and what to expect from the procedure.
Signs You Might Need a Root Canal
Routine office visits to your dentist can help forestall more serious oral health care issues. However, it is still essential to watch for signs that indicate a need for dental care between checkups. One key indicator challenging to ignore—pain—can range from minor to knee-buckling. The goal is to avoid the latter by going in when pain or discomfort begins or if you notice unusual swelling in the gum tissue. Another sign of a potential problem could be as simple as a tiny pimple on the gum line.
Underneath the Surface
The pain and swelling are due to activity within your gum tissue. The word ‘canal’ in ‘root canal’ refers to the canal of a tooth. Bacteria, in the form of a cavity, get into that canal, which is an enclosed space. There, the bacteria proliferate and eventually cause an infection trapped within the tooth canal or cavity.
Blausen.com staff (2014)
This hurts the blood vessel structure in the nerve. The body then sends its infection-fighting forces to the end of the root. As this situation continues without treatment, an abscess develops, pus builds up, and the discomfort increases as nerves in the bone begin to hurt.
The tooth itself feels sensitive because its nerve structure is being invaded. The end of the root of the tooth is the access point for a bundle of nerves, arteries, and veins, but the root end is pinpoint in size. Because it is such a tiny area, the white blood cells cannot get in to do their job.
“Root” Causes for a Root Canal
There are various reasons a person might need a root canal, with age, genetics, socioeconomics, and home care all significant factors.
As we get older into our 40s, adult teeth have been in place and functioning for more than 20 years. In general, if a dental patient has required various dental procedures for restorative work, such as fillings or crowns, the cumulative effect of these treatments over the years can traumatize the teeth. Usually, healthy younger adults will not need a root canal unless factors other than age and trauma come into play.
Physical Trauma—Various circumstances can cause physical trauma to teeth, from cavities to drilling or the onslaught of temperature changes from our food and beverage choices (think hot coffee, ice cream, or even iced coffee). Over time, the cumulative effects of physical trauma can cause tissue located around and next to the tooth to die.
Enter the villain in this scenario—bacteria. Bacteria are opportunistic. Bacteria in the bloodstream, even due to a simple winter cold, will gravitate to that stressed tooth and cause a similar infection as would a cavity.
Genetics—You take after your family for all physical characteristics, such as height or eye color. You might not realize this extends to your oral health as well. A person who inherits the type of teeth that never get cavities or require filling will not experience the same results if they contract a cold. It will likely not lead to a root canal procedure because the teeth and nerves are healthy. A person with weakened tissue is more susceptible to a bacterial attack.
Socioeconomics—Anyone who ignores a cavity will put themselves at risk for more complex dental treatment. However, some populations are more prone to this risk. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that nearly 40% of low-income adults, or those without private health insurance, have untreated cavities. This group is twice as likely as adults with higher incomes or private health insurance to have one to three untreated cavities and three times as likely to have four untreated cavities. An untreated cavity leaves the decay unchecked, and it will spread to the deepest portion of the tooth, the nerve tissue. At that point, a root canal becomes a necessity.
Routine Maintenance—Another factor in root canal risk is deferred maintenance or neglect of regular dental care. Even a person who won the genetic lottery for great teeth can find themselves candidates for a root canal if they ignore care routines and dental visits because the loss of gum and bone tissue is related to this neglect.
The Followup
Patients might need to reconsider the care schedule as these factors mount up—age, genetics, or dental care issues. Rather than experience a root canal, consider more frequent dental visits, such as every three to four months instead of every six.
It is important to remember that there will always be two sides to the genetic lottery—the person whose genetics have gifted them with great teeth that rarely, if ever, develop a cavity. Then there are those who, even though they practice exact maintenance procedures at home and regularly visit the dentist, also regularly develop cavities.
In addition to genetics, some fail to take care of their teeth. Even with good genetics, don’t ignore the routines, maintenance, and practices that will help keep you healthy.
There is always going to be an outlier. The person who says they’ve never been to the dentist doesn’t follow any particular hygiene rules and has beautiful teeth. It’s like the one person in everyone’s high school class who went to Hollywood, and now they’ve made movies. You’re one out of 1,000
Root Canal Procedures
- Remember, there shouldn’t be any pain. The first step of any root canal procedure is numbing the area in the mouth that requires attention.
- Dental staff will remove the infected material.
- All remaining soft tissue is removed, such as the nerve bundle in the canal.
- Staff will fill the space with an inert material that allows the tooth to remain in place and function properly. The tooth, while functional, is devoid of feeling.
The Danger of Avoiding a Root Canal Procedure
Bacteria in the body can threaten overall health. Depending on where the infection is located, the infection can spread in different directions. A lower jaw infection can go around the pericardium and cause a heart problem or even a heart attack. An upper jaw bacterial infection can travel to a cavity behind the nose, which leads to the brain. In essence, if the infection reaches the bloodstream, it can travel to any organ in the body and cause widespread infection. While these are extreme, patients must realize serious consequences await if an infection is ignored or dental treatment is delayed.
There is no reason to suffer from mouth pain or swelling. Call Empire Dental Arts today if you are experiencing pain or discomfort, and schedule a visit. Your dental health is our priority and our passion.