The Long Term Negative Dental Health Impact Of Delaying A Root Canal

When a dentist decides that a root canal is necessary for a patient, it is likely due to the tooth’s inner pulp becoming infected. If a dentist recommends a root canal treatment, you may still wonder how long you can go without getting it. If this thought crosses your mind, you are not alone. Patients ignore getting root canals for several reasons, including fear of not knowing how they will pay for it. Whatever the reason, it is important to understand that there are serious consequences to not getting a root canal treatment to treat infected pulp. If you are in the Devonshire, Bermuda area and need a root canal treatment, you should visit Drs. Ian Campbell, Christopher Allington, and Lara Loescher at Positive Image Dental.

If you have been told that you need a root canal but have been putting it off, it may be helpful to understand a bit more about the procedure and how delaying the treatment could impact your health. Armed with this information, you may be motivated to get this treatment promptly.

What To Expect From a Root Canal

If you have been to the dentist and it has been determined that you need a root canal, there are situations where your dentist can prescribe an antibiotic to buy you some time. Even with this antibiotic, the issue will not go away, and you will still need the procedure within a few weeks to fully eliminate the infection of your tooth.

When you have decided to undergo a root canal, you can expect the procedure to take a couple of hours to complete. In some severe cases, it can take longer. First, a local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area around the infected tooth, after which a hole will be drilled so that the center of the tooth can be accessed. Once the infected pulpal tissue has been removed, the tooth will be sealed. Your tooth will be severely weakened from this process, resulting in the need for a crown to be put over the tooth. A crown will protect the tooth so that it can be saved from extraction.

Despite what you may have heard, this entire process is not something to be feared. Local anesthetic ensures that the experience is comfortable to you and not much different than getting a filling.

What Can Happen If You Put Off a Root Canal

If you have delayed getting a root canal, you are playing with fire. While the thought of getting a root canal is scary to some, the consequences of not getting one are far more terrifying. When damage is done to the tooth’s pulp and bacteria begin to form, they can multiply and lead to several complications.

Abscess

When your tooth becomes infected, it can lead to an abscess, a pocket that develops at the end of your tooth’s root and fills with pus. When this happens, emergency treatment will be necessary.

Bone Loss

If you delay a root canal too long, bacteria will develop and begin to attack the tip of the tooth’s root. This can lead to significant loss of bone and teeth.

Swelling/Pressure

It is possible that, as the nerves in the tooth begin to die, you begin to feel relief from the pain you have faced up to this point. However, the tooth will remain infected and will likely lead to increased pressure and uncomfortable swelling of the head, face, and neck.

Tooth Loss

When you put off getting a root canal for too long, the root of the tooth will inevitably decay. Once a tooth’s root decays past a certain point, it’s impossible to save the tooth, and it will either need to be extracted or could fall out.

These are just a few of the negative health effects putting off a root canal can lead to. If you are in the Devonshire, Bermuda area and believe you may need a root canal, it is so important that you do not delay. Please call (441) 292-2312 today to schedule an appointment at Positive Image Dental. Save your tooth and prevent dental health issues with root canal therapy.