Our dentistry team serving San Antonio would perform a root canal on a tooth in an effort to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. The process involves the dentist using tools that effectively bore into the tooth’s enamel to remove the tooth’s nerve and pulp. The interior of your tooth is made up of nerve tissue and pulp. Once removed, the inside of the tooth is then cleaned and a seal is placed on the tooth to close the access point.
If this procedure is not done, and your tooth is infected, the surrounding tissue can also become infected. And if not caught and treated, this infection can lead to an abscessed tooth. An abscess is basically a pus pocket that settles at the root of the tooth. Symptoms that you may have an infection or abscess requiring a root canal are:
- Sensitivity to heat and/or cold
- Swelling
- Severe pain
- Tooth discoloration
If a root canal is not performed, you can experience swelling to other parts of the face or neck; bone loss resulting in loss of teeth; and the risk that the infection can spread.
If you have a root canal, there is no guarantee that your tooth will be saved. But since the tooth’s nerve is not essential to a tooth’s health, having it removed would not have any negative impact. In fact, after the tooth emerges through the gum, the only function of the nerve is to realize the sensation of heat and cold. So having a root canal will not affect the day to day function of a tooth.
Based on the location of the tooth requiring a root canal, your dentist might refer you to a specialist called an Endodontist (a dentist that specializes in the causes and treatment of injuries and diseases related to the pulp and nerve of the tooth).
Although having a root canal does not guarantee you can save your tooth, if a root canal is needed, and you do not have it, the chances of saving the tooth diminish drastically.
