WHEN ARE ROOT CANALS NECESSARY?
Are looking for a dentist serving Naples who performs root canals? You may be interested in some helpful information about root canals and when they are necessary. Your dentist will only recommend a root canal to you if no other type of dental care would be likely to relieve your symptoms.
When You Have Painful Symptoms
Mild tooth pain can indicate a common dental issue like cavities, but if you have more severe pain along with these other symptoms, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. A root canal may be necessary if you have a serious toothache that is aggravated when you chew or bite down with your teeth. You may also feel an extreme sensitivity to hot and cold food or beverages and notice that your gums are also tender and sensitive. Additionally, the affected tooth may appear darker than those around it.
If There is Damage to Nerve or Dental Pulp
Dental pulp is soft tissue contained within a chamber in the center of your tooth. It is vital to the life of the tooth, as it contains the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels, which nourish the tooth. Your dental pulp or the nerve of your tooth may become damaged or infected due to extreme tooth decay, trauma to the face or tooth, or multiple dental procedures. An infection in can cause lingering dental pain. If left untreated, it can also cause irreversible damage to the tooth.
When There Are No Alternative Therapies
Root canals are the preferred therapy for the type of severe symptoms described above, as a root canal procedure allows you to keep your natural tooth. The primary alternative would be a tooth extraction, after which the removed tooth would be replaced with a dental bridge, tooth implant, or partial dentures. The cost of a tooth extraction and a prosthetic tooth is much higher than that of a root canal, and the treatment period is longer.
