Root canal treatment is the process of carefully removing an infection from the inside of your tooth’s inner structures – mainly, its pulp chamber and root canal. As such, it’s usually recommended when tooth decay has become so severe that it reaches these chambers. If you’ve neglected a growing toothache or hesitated to receive a tooth filling, then the need for root canal treatment might not be much a surprise. However, at our Grand Prairie, TX, dental office, we might also uncover other reasons for root canal treatment during your visit that you might not have expected.
You fractured your tooth structure
Because tooth decay is progressive, it can eventually reach a tooth’s pulp and root canal if it’s neglected long enough. Yet, if you fracture your tooth’s crown, then the pulp and root canal may become immediately vulnerable to harmful oral bacteria, even if tooth decay wasn’t present before. This can lead to the need for root canal treatment to remove the infected tissues and tooth structure before restoring the tooth with a dental crown. Otherwise, any remaining decay may continue to affect the tooth after the crown is placed.
Your crown becomes compromised
If you’ve previously had a dental crown placed to restore a fractured or broken tooth, but the crown has become compromised in some way, then oral bacteria might have a chance to work their way underneath it. Depending on the nature of your tooth’s original damage, this might lead to an imminent infection in the tooth before you realize that the crown has been compromised. The best way to get ahead of this is to stick to a routine schedule of checkups and cleanings with your dentist, during which he can carefully inspect your restoration along with your teeth and oral tissues.
You waited to replace a failed filling
If you’ve already treated your cavity with a tooth filling, then you may have avoided the need for root canal treatment. However, if the filling fails (falls out, becomes loose, etc.), then your tooth will once again be at risk. You may or may not feel discomfort in the tooth immediately; if not, then bacteria may have a chance to infect it again before you have the filling replaced. If so, then this may have already happened.
Find out if you need root canal treatment
Sometimes, the need for root canal treatment might not be as obvious as you expect it to be. To find out if you need root canal treatment, schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
