3 Top Reasons for Having a Root Canal
As you may know, your teeth are the sturdiest substance in your body since they are covered by enamel. However, they are not indestructible. If you don’t show them love each day by brushing and flossing and watching what you eat, then you may have to deal with tons of oral health issues.
Some of the issues arise because the enamel is compromised, leading to exposure of the tooth’s inner parts. You may need to visit our dentist in Coquitlam for a root canal near you when this happens.
With root canal therapy, our experienced dentists get the chance to save your damaged teeth. So, have you been wondering what situations may call for you to undergo a root canal? If you are, read along to see the top reasons for a root canal. But before we do, let’s get some definitions out of the way.
What’s a Root Canal?
Our experienced dentists always believe in saving your natural pearly whites at all costs. It was impossible to save damaged teeth a few decades ago, and tooth extractions were the way to go.
Now, root canal therapy has made it possible since our dentist can access the inner parts of your teeth without causing any pain. Our dentist will gain access to the inner parts of your tooth by drilling. This is where the pulp chamber is located. The pulp consists of connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels.
Our dentist removes the pulp or performs a root canal to prevent further destruction of your damaged tooth. The procedure aims to remove infection and save as much of your tooth as possible.
Without further ado, let’s see the reason for having a root canal.
Deep Decay
Your mouth is home to several species of bacteria, both good and bad. However, the bacteria responsible for causing tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans, reside in dental plaque. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky biofilm that coats teeth, usually after you consume food. It comprises saliva, food debris, and bacteria.
When you eat food, especially foods with high sugar content, the bacteria will swarm to digest the sugar. So, they will convert the sugars present in your mouth into acids. If you are not proactively brushing and flossing your teeth, plaque forms. If it is not checked, it will build up over time, and the acids will slowly begin to erode your enamel.
Deep decay never happens overnight; however, it occurs in several stages. Initially, the acids will begin eroding the enamel, and you might see white spots on some of your teeth. This means that there’s mineral loss.
If it is left unchecked, it may continue to break down further. The white spots will become darker and turn to a brownish color. This is also when small holes that you know as cavities begin to form. At this stage, you will experience sensitivity.
As this process progresses, the cavities go deeper into the tooth. At this stage, you have deep decay. Now, the pulp will be exposed, and it can be infected or inflamed. This is what makes you feel pain because the swelling will be placing pressure on the nerves. If left untreated, an abscess will develop (a pus-filled pocket in the gums).
If there is decay that has reached the dental pulp, the only way to stop the infection and save your tooth is by getting a root canal.
Cracked/Chipped Tooth
Your teeth can get cracked or chipped because of injury, general wear, grinding, biting something hard, etc. You can experience various symptoms that range from erratic pain when you eat food to a sudden jolt of pain when you expose your teeth to extreme temperatures.
In most cases, the pain may come and go, and it can be challenging to locate the tooth that is causing discomfort.
However, if your tooth is cracked or chipped, you should seek help from our dentist. Depending on how severe the issue is, a root canal may be the best solution that can help alleviate the pain and save your tooth.
Multiple Procedures on the Tooth
At times a single tooth may be subjected to various dental procedures. If you have had multiple procedures done, the only way to save your tooth may be to undergo a root canal. In fact, the best way would be opting for a root canal instead of risking and going for multiple procedures that could harm the health of your teeth.
In any case, if you need to know more about root canal benefits or you have any dental issues, contact us at Tri-Cities Dental Specialists, and we would love to help.