Reasons You May Require Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is necessary when a tooth’s pulp — the soft mass of connective tissue inside the center of the tooth — becomes infected or inflamed. In this scenario, there is often no other way to reach the soft tissue inside the root of the tooth than by performing a root canal procedure. A root canal can save the patient’s tooth and provide relief from the extreme pain that often results from these infections. Though the idea of having root canal treatment often makes patients worry, dentists can explain this is a time-tested procedure that can restore oral health and save a tooth. 

What is a root canal?

It may surprise patients to know that teeth are not solid structures — but if you are experiencing pain that seems to come from deep within a tooth, the fact that the soft, squishy core inside teeth can become inflamed will make sense. Teeth have many layers, including the enamel, dentin, tooth pulp, root, cementum (the hard covering of the tooth’s roots), and the root canal. Though root canal treatment is often colloquially called a “root canal,” this term technically describes the opening or passageway in the bottom of the tooth. Dentists performing root canal treatment use the root canal to access the tooth’s pulp.

Why would a patient require root canal treatment?

If a patient has a simple cavity in the enamel or dentin of the tooth, this abscess can typically be treated with a small drill and a filling of composite material that protects the tooth from further decay. If the decay is located in the root or the pulp of the tooth, more extreme measures must be taken to restore the tooth to good health.

Decay that goes beyond the tooth’s surface layers

Patients who have left cavities untreated or those who have not had regular access to dental care often are not able to get cavities filled before the decay spreads to the center of the tooth. A faulty crown or a cracked tooth can begin this decay process before the patient realizes what has occurred. Once decay permeates the roots or the pulp of the tooth, a root canal becomes necessary to save the tooth.

Infection of the tooth pulp

Teeth can become infected for a number of reasons, including illness, injury, and cracked or damaged teeth. Patients who do not immediately treat cracked teeth may experience an infection that spreads from the surface of the tooth or the gums to the pulp inside the tooth. Cavities that form between teeth often lead to further layers of decay and can often only be reached by performing root canal treatment.

Conclusion

Patients who experience severe tooth pain or swollen gums around a tooth need to be evaluated by a dentist immediately. Root canal treatment may be necessary if the cavity cannot be reached or the infection has spread beyond the tooth’s outer layers. Once the root canal procedure is performed, it can treat the infection and restore the patient’s oral health.

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