WHO NEEDS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?

Root Canal Therapy is needed for two main reasons: infection or irreversible damage to the pulp. The common cause of pulp infection is an untreated cavity. The decays wear away the enamel and dentin of the tooth, causing the tooth to opens into the root canal system. This allows bacteria to infect the pulp and will lead to inflammation. The inflammation will restrict the blood supply to the tooth which will limit the pulp’s ability to heal itself.

When a tooth’s nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. These bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth. In addition to an abscess, an infection in the root canal of a tooth can cause swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head; bone loss around the tip of the root or drainage problems extending outward from the root.

In many cases, when the pulp is inflamed but not infected, it can heal itself and return to normal. Your dentist at Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers will monitor the tooth to see if this happens before doing root canal therapy. It is better to keep your natural teeth if at all possible. If a tooth is missing, neighboring teeth can drift out of line and can be overstressed. Keeping your natural teeth also helps you to avoid extensive and more expensive treatments, such as implants or bridges. If an infected or injured tooth is left untreated, not only you can lose the tooth but also the infection can spread to other parts of your body.