3 Key Reasons to Consider Getting Root Canal Therapy

For many, the thought of root canal therapy is enough to send chills down their spine. And yet it’s one of the most common dental procedures done today. Root canal therapy involves a dentist in Tampa, Florida, cleaning out the pulp chamber and the canals to remove bacteria that have invaded the tooth. Then, the canals are repopulated with a sealer to prevent any further decay. 

In fact, the amount of time that elapses between the bacteria’s invasion and the actual treatment is a major reason why it’s important to have root canal therapy done as soon as possible. The longer you put off the procedure, the more serious it will be in the future. This is because the bacteria continue to eat away at your tooth and even develop into an abscess, which requires a much more invasive surgery if you want to save your tooth.

Here are the 3 key reasons to consider getting root canal therapy.

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp

This is the most obvious reason to consider getting root canal therapy. If you have pain and are experiencing sensitivity in your tooth, then there is a good chance that it’s due to decay. Your dentist will need to study the x-rays of your tooth to determine if you need root canal therapy. Root canal therapy will typically be done in order to save your tooth. However, if the decay has reached the pulp chamber or canals, then the tooth may not be able to be saved and will need to be extracted.

• Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip

Abscesses that develop in the tooth can quickly become very serious. This is because bacteria can easily exit the tooth and travel to other areas of your body by way of the bloodstream. And if this happens, then it’s likely that you need emergency root canal therapy.

• Injury or trauma to the tooth

Injury or trauma to the tooth can also cause bacteria to enter the root canal. If you have suffered any injury or trauma to your tooth, then you should definitely have root canal therapy to ensure that the canals are free of bacteria. This will help prevent infection or an abscess in the tooth from developing.