What Happens When a Tooth Needing a Root Canal in Kingston, PA isn’t treated by a Dentist
T here may come a time when, due to trauma or advanced dental decay, the blood supply and nerves in a tooth (also called the pulp) becomes infected. If this infection or damage becomes too advanced, the only option available to a dentist for saving the tooth may be root canal therapy (more commonly called a root canal). Dr. Stephen Lawrence at Lawrence Dental Group in Kingston, PA has been performing successful root canals for years. He will remove the infected pulp, clean, and then fill any empty space remaining in the tooth before sealing and capping it.
The problem with root canals does not lie in the procedure itself, but in the fear it can induce in patients. Many individuals may be tempted to ignore a tooth which is in need of a root canal due to tales of horror they have heard regarding how painful the procedure is. The truth is that the procedure is not any more painful than receiving a filling. Far more pain will be experienced later once the tooth reaches advanced stages of infection. Let’s take a look at what you can expect if a tooth needing a root canal is ignored.
Bacteria Finds a Home
When the pulp of a tooth becomes damaged due to injury or infection, it can become dead tissue. To bacteria, this is a certifiable feast that it can multiply on. With no blood supply in the tooth, there are no white blood cells to fight off this bacterial infection and it has an environment in which it can thrive.
The Bacteria Spreads
As this bacteria thrives in your tooth, it can then begin to spread elsewhere. Areas between your jaw and tooth are susceptible to this spread and can result in an abscess. This can lead to bone loss around the tooth’s root and beyond. In some more extreme cases, the infection can erupt out from the tooth into cheeks, gums, and other soft tissues. This sounds uncomfortable because it is. If an infection reaches this point, you will be in considerable pain. When pain becomes extreme, many will finally call the dentist. And to think that a simple root canal could have helped you avoid all of this.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephen Lawrence at Lawrence Dental Group in Kingston, PA, please call (570) 852-2650 today!
