The root canal is a dental procedure that helps to save a severely decayed or infected tooth. It is an effective way to treat dental problems without extracting the tooth. Do you have apprehensions about the Root canal treatment? It is not uncommon to fear root canals.
Many people consider it to be a risky and painful procedure. However, the risk of infections, dangerous side effects, or a failed root canal treatment gets eliminated if you choose a skilled and experienced dentist equipped with the latest tools and technology.
This blog explains what a root canal, its symptoms, pros, side effects, root canal infection symptoms, and how to treat it is.
So, let’s get started!
What is a Root Canal?
The root canal is a dental procedure where the dentist removes the damaged or decayed pulp from the tooth. It is done to treat a severely damaged or infected tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerve endings and blood vessels. Once the damaged pulp is removed, the tooth is cleaned and sealed to prevent further infection.
You won’t experience much pain during the Root canal procedure as it is conducted under local anaesthesia.
What Could Be the Symptoms Indicating the Need for Root Canal?
If you are feeling tooth pain, don’t conclude that you need a root canal. But keep an eye out for signs that indicate it may be an infection serious enough to require treatment. Some things to watch for include:
- Severe toothache
- Sensitive teeth to hot or cold food and beverages
- An abscess in the gum area surrounding the tooth
- Swollen and tender gums
- Swelling spreading to your face and neck
- Pain while chewing
- A hole or chip in your tooth
- Tooth discoloration
If you or your kids experience any of these symptoms along with tooth pain, then it could be the time to visit your dentist for a root canal treatment.
What are the Advantages of a Root Canal?
The root canal is a great way to save a tooth with severe infection and damage. Here are some of its major benefits:
- It helps to alleviate pain and discomfort caused by a damaged or infected tooth.
- It prevents further damage and infection.
- It prevents jawbone degeneration.
- It helps to restore the normal functioning of the tooth.
- It helps to improve the appearance of the tooth.
- It boosts overall oral health.
- It is as painless as a filling process.
What are the Dangers and Side Effects of Root Canal Treatment?
Although a root canal is generally a safe procedure. But, if not done correctly, it can have some associated problems and side effects. The most common of them are:
- Toxic Fillings
- Swelling and Soreness of the Gums
- Some of the Impacted Pulp Remains Inside
- Improper Sealing
- Mild Pain and Discomfort
- Damage to the Side Canal
- Headache
- Root Canal Infection
In some cases, a root canal can give rise to the following chronic health conditions: –
- Various Types of Cancers
- Irritable Bowel Diseases Such as Crohn’s Disease
- Heart Disease
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
- Depression
- Arthritis, Joint, and Rheumatic Diseases
- Fibromyalgia
- Neurological Diseases Such as ALS
- Kidney Disease
How to Treat an Infected Root Canal?
If the root canal treatment is not done correctly, it can lead to one of the most common and troublesome side effects – root canal infection. This infection can further cause harmful side effects and health conditions mentioned in the previous section.
Proper cleaning and sanitization after root canal treatment can keep the infection-causing bacteria at bay. But nothing can wipe out 100% of the bacteria. So, a lot depends upon your immune system. You may get infected by the present bacteria or remain asymptomatic.
Treating root canal infections requires a combination of different techniques. Depending on the severity of the infection, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. In some cases, the dentist may also suggest another root canal treatment to remove the infection.
Author Bio:
Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD the best dentist in salem ma, runs a Coral Dental Care a successful dentistry. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental community with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.
