Reasons for a Root Canal
When your tooth is in agony, it may seem the only thing to do is get the tooth pulled. You want to avoid tooth-pulling as much as possible, because that changes your bite and the way you chew, and is unsightly. Root canals have improved dramatically in the last 20 years, becoming a far less painful way to fix your tooth with a crown.
Main Reasons Why
Getting a root canal in order to receive a crown is the only way to save an infected or rotten tooth without having to go through pulling the entire tooth. Only the rotten or infected parts are removed, and then a false tooth (the crown) is screwed onto the healthy part of the tooth. If the entire tooth is rotten, then the tooth must be removed. Root canals are sometimes done in order to fit in a dental implant or a needed prosthetic, but those cases are rare.
Function
Root canals serve two functions. First, they stop the spread of painful infection and they provide a safe and comfortable base for the crown to anchor onto. The infected pulp and nerve are removed and then the outer part of the tooth is whittled down to a narrow line. The temporary is hooked onto this by means of a screw and then, when the crown is ready, the temporary is removed and the crown fitted. The crown acts as a tooth, but lacks a nerve or pulp.
Tooth Pulp Infection Symptoms
You may need a root canal if you get these symptoms: if you feel a lightning bolt of pain from one specific area of your mouth when you chew or when you eat something hot or cold, or if one side of your face begins to swell up. Other symptoms include the infected tooth changing color, a persistent soreness of the gums or the development of a pimple on the gums above the infected tooth.
Warning
Infected tooth pulp will not get better on its own. This is something that gets worse as time as goes on. Your dentist or doctor may put you on a prescription of antibiotics and painkillers, but the root canal still needs to be done. Remember, tooth pulp has direct contact with the nerve. If the pulp is in trouble, the nerve will give you a lot of pain.
Misconceptions
Pregnant women can get root canals, but please check with your doctor first as to what painkiller you are allowed to take. Contrary to popular belief, root canals do not make a person sick. Also, if the tooth pain is not constant, you still may need a root canal. Although called a root canal, the root of your tooth is still left in your gums. It's just the soft pulp and the nerve that's been removed.
Tags: root canal, your tooth, entire tooth, infected tooth, need root