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How Do Root Canal Infections Occur?

2022 April 27
by admin

How to avoid a root canal procedure (and why you shouldn’t be concerned if you need one….)

Most of us are probably familiar with the words ‘root canal’ but most likely not what it actually entails. Even though the ‘horror stories’ about this treatment are greatly exaggerated, it is definitely something that should be avoided if possible, predominantly for the health of your teeth.

So what actually causes root canal infections? There are a number of ways in which this can happen, but essentially it occurs when bacteria finds its way through the enamel and dentin parts of the tooth and enters into the root canals where the soft pulp, including the nerves,  is stored.

Protecting your tooth

The best way to maintain healthy teeth of course is to make sure that you keep them clean and have a regular examination at Alexandra Dental Care. Patients from the Burton, Swadlincote and Ashby area who do this should hopefully avoid the need for a root canal procedure, but this can never be guaranteed unfortunately.

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria enters the tooth through the compromised enamel. Providing that you see your dentist in time, it is usually enough to remove the decaying material and fill the tooth. This should prevent it spreading further into the root canals of the tooth. The longer you delay treatment, the bigger the chances are that the decay and bacteria will spread so make sure you have your teeth checked regularly.

A cracked tooth is another common cause and especially if the crack is nearer to the root, the infection can occur before you even notice any symptoms of tooth decay. Just because a tooth doesn’t initially hurt after an accident, such as from a fall; if your teeth have suffered an impact, do make sure to have them checked by one of our dental team. This is a good way of reducing the risk of any infections of the root canal.

How will you know if your root canals are infected?

Hopefully it won’t come to this but if they do become infected, there will be a better chance of detecting this relatively early on if you keep your six monthly appointments. The same applies if you have an accident. Do make sure that you contact us to have the tooth checked even if it appears to you that no damage has been caused. A root canal infection that is left to become worse can lead to an abscess. This will almost certainly eventually be very painful and it is unlikely that you will delay having it looked at any further. Don’t let it get this far though; it really isn’t worth it.

Treating root canal problems

The question that we are most often asked when a patient is told that they need a root canal procedure is whether there is an alternative treatment available. Unfortunately, there isn’t. The only options are to allow it to get worse, which would be a really bad idea and very painful; or to have the tooth extracted. This is not advisable though, especially as a root canal procedure is nothing like as bad as you probably fear.

For the treatment to be carried out, you will be given a local anaesthetic to make sure that the area is numb and to minimise any discomfort. You will also receive an x-ray beforehand where we check for any abscesses that might be present. If any are found, the treatment will be postponed whilst they are treated.  Once the area is numb, the top section of the tooth will be removed and the infected soft pulp removed from the root canals of the tooth. The hollow canals will then be thoroughly cleaned to minimise any risk of re-infection. The canals will then be filled with a special filling material called Gutta Percha and a crown then attached to complete and strengthen the tooth.

As the nerves of the tooth will have been removed, the tooth will have no sensation and you will need to take a little additional care with it. Although the tooth will function perfectly well for everyday use, you should avoid using it to bite down on harder foods as you will be unable to tell how hard you are biting and the tooth could break. With good general care and a little common sense though, your root canal filled tooth can last you for eight to ten years and even more.

If you have a problem with your teeth, please do contact us for an appointment. Any of our Ashby or Burton patients that are told they need root canal treatment should not be afraid and our friendly team are always happy to discuss the procedure with you.

For any oral care issues, or to book a check up appointment with us, please call Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347.

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