When Root Canal Treatment Is the Right Solution

The process of treating your root canals is most commonly recommended when tooth decay reaches its severe stage. The infection known as tooth decay is the result of harmful oral bacteria overwhelming your tooth structure, and if it reaches your root canal, then the problem can become a significant one. However, having a severely infected tooth pulp and root canal aren’t the only reasons why you may need root canal treatment. Today, we look at a few other times when it may be the right solution for protecting the long-term health and integrity of your tooth.

When you wait too long to fill a cavity

When tooth decay first develops, it can often be stopped in its tracks with a minimally invasive tooth filling procedure. This involves carefully removing the oral bacteria that have infected the tooth and the decayed structure that surrounds the cavity, or hole, in your tooth. However, tooth decay is a progressive issue, and the longer it remains, the larger the cavity grows. The filling needed to treat it may have to be larger, as well, unless the infection reaches the tooth’s pulp chamber and the root canal that connects to it. If this occurs, a tooth filling will no longer suffice to treat the level of decay and save the remaining natural tooth structure.

When a you need to treat a fractured tooth

Progressive tooth decay is one of the most frequent reasons for needing root canal treatment, but not the only one. The point of the procedure is to remove the tissues, nerves, and blood vessels that reside within the tooth’s pulp and root canal to prevent more severe infection. The threat of this level of infection can also be present if the tooth’s crown structure fractures significantly enough. Treating a fractured tooth may mean placing a dental crown over its entire visible structure, which prevents the damage from getting worse and restores the tooth’s function. However, root canal treatment might be required first to eliminate the risks of enclosing oral bacteria or traces of decay within your tooth.

When a dental restoration fails

The good thing about addressing tooth problems early is the ability to avoid more serious concerns with your oral health down the line. For example, filling a cavity early can prevent your tooth from becoming more severely decayed and requiring root canal treatment. However, if the tooth filling, or other dental restoration, fails at some point, then it could expose the tooth and its inner tissues to more damage and/or infection. Root canal treatment might be necessary to ensure that the tooth’s inner structures are not compromised.

Learn if your tooth needs root canal treatment

The need to save your tooth with root canal treatment can result from a number of different, specific types of concerns with your tooth structure. To learn more, call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234. We also serve the residents of Kingwood, Conroe, Livingston, and all surrounding communities.