Root Canal Therapy

The Root Canal Myth

The traditional myth of Root Canal Therapy is that it is very painful. Root Canal Therapy, contrary to popular belief, actually relieves the pain and discomfort that is very common with abscessed teeth and infection. Our team is attentive to your comfort during and after the procedure. Patients with anxiety regarding root canal therapy have the option to consider one of our sedation options during their root canal appointment.

Why We Might Suggest that You Need a Root Canal

A root canal treatment becomes needed when the pulp, or the soft inner tissue of your tooth, has become infected or exposed. This happens when the hard outer shell of the tooth, or enamel, has failed, and the interior pulp has become compromised. The most common reasons for compromise are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, or an injury to a tooth.

Once the pulp of the tooth is infected or exposed, an abscess (infection) can occur at the root tip where it meets the jawbone. An abscess destroys bone surrounding the tooth and causes considerable pain.

What are the Signs of an Infected or Compromised Tooth?

Surprisingly, sometimes there are no outward signs that the tooth is unhealthy. At some point, however, you may notice one (or more) of the following signs:

• Any pressure on the tooth causes a sharp pain.
• Your tooth becomes much more sensitive to hot or cold. The sensation lingers even after the source is removed.
• Your tooth begins to darken.
• You experience tenderness in your gums.
• You have tooth pain that interrupts your sleep.
• You experience spontaneous, throbbing tooth pain.

Do I have to have a Root Canal?

Whenever possible, saving your natural teeth is always recommended by our dental team! However, when a tooth cannot be saved by a root canal treatment, or if you choose not to proceed with a root canal, the alternative is having the tooth extracted and replaced with an implant, bridge, or denture to restore chewing function and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting.

Root Canal Prevention

The best way to prevent the need for a root canal treatment is by maintaining good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and taking proper safety measures during sports by using a proper sports mouthguard. Additionally, a tooth becomes vulnerable to deep pulp infections because of the repeated need for dental treatment of the tooth, such as deep fillings.

So no matter what condition your teeth are in, it is never too late to apply these preventative principles to protect your teeth. The team at Lifepath Wellness Dental in Chestermere is here to help you and advise you on the path to good oral health.