The very phrase “root canal” sends a cold shiver of fear into the hearts of many dental patients. Whether this is your very first time getting a root canal or you are returning for additional treatments, you are likely dreading this type of tooth procedure. The urban myths surrounding root canals call this procedure painful, excruciating, and just downright scary. However, experts at your local general and family dentistry in Pomona know that the real fear lies in the dangers of delaying a root canal.
Dangers of Delaying a Root Canal
By refusing to go in for a root canal treatment, you are only allowing the decay and infection to spread further in your mouth. If left untreated, this decay could reach your bloodstream and cause deadly infection throughout the entirety of your body. For your own health and oral hygiene, here’s why you should not be skipping that root canal.
Your Symptoms Will Only Get Worse
Unfortunately, tooth pain does not go away on its own. In fact, toothaches are an indicator that something is wrong with your dental health. You need to address this pain with your dentist so you can get started with the appropriate treatment, which will provide instant relief to your discomfort. Ignoring this pain will only make it worse.
Some of the biggest symptoms of a tooth infection that indicate the need for an immediate root canal might include:
- Intense sharp or dull pain around the teeth
- Gums that are red and irritated all the time
- Constant bad breath and a lasting bad taste in the mouth despite brushing frequently
- Teeth that are overly sensitive to temperatures and touch
- Pain that radiates outward to the face or causes a headache
For some folks, these symptoms can worsen at night or during periods of rest. It is important that you seek care for your symptoms ASAP.
You Risk Losing Your Teeth
A root canal is a last-ditch effort to save the structure and integrity of your tooth. When decay has spread to the point where it reaches the core of your tooth, it risks infecting the tooth’s pulp. This is the soft center of your tooth that connects it to the nerves in your mouth.
In order to save your tooth and stop the continued spread of decay, the dentist will “deaden” the tooth by scooping out the infected pulp. This will allow your tooth to remain in your mouth instead of having to get it pulled. Those who wait too long to invest in a root canal may have to get an extraction instead.
You Can’t Get Rid of Your Pain
If you don’t get a root canal, then you won’t be able to relieve the intense and annoying pain that exists in your mouth. Unfortunately, when it comes to advanced tooth decay, there is no other way to get rid of the nasty symptoms plaguing your mouth. A root canal procedure immediately gets rid of the source of pain, healing your mouth back to good health.
During the root canal procedure, you will receive a local anesthetic so you do not feel any discomfort or pain. It is expected that you will be swollen and sensitive for a day or so following your procedure, but you should be faced with no further complications.
Restore Your Dental Health Today With a Top-Notch Root Canal Service
At Dental Care of Pomona, it is our goal to give you a safe, effective, and comfortable root canal treatment. While the fears and dangers of a root canal are mostly myths, the dangers of delaying a root canal are very real. You can prevent the undue spread of infection by treating your decay as soon as it visits your mouth. Contact us at the first sign of uncomfortable symptoms so we can save your tooth and your entire dental health ASAP.
