What Happens If You Don’t Get a Root Canal?

What Happens If You Don’t Get a Root Canal?

Jul 01, 2022

Infection or severe decay on your soft tooth core-the pulp may lead to adverse oral health conditions. Our dentist near Phoenix, AZ, recommends you undergo a root canal procedure to scale out the infected or decayed tooth root and prevent further deterioration. The pulp cavity holds your tooth’s connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves for nourishment. Decay and infection make your pulp inflamed, and necrotic which may compel your dentist to perform a root canal process.

What’s Root Canal Therapy?

A root canal procedure is an endodontic process that repairs your damaged or infected tooth root to save it from permanent loss. The treatment involves the removal of the infected soft tissue from the pulp chamber to lessen the risk of tooth deterioration. Severe decay, damage, or infection may require an extensive procedure, including a dental extraction that leads to permanent loss of your natural tooth. During the process, your endodontist will:

  • Remove the infected, decayed tissues from the pulp cavity
  • Disinfect the pulp chamber with antibiotics
  • Fill your tooth root
  • Shield your tooth from further decay, infection, or damage using a sealant

What Are the Indicators That You Need a Root Canal?

Numerous factors may compel you to undertake a root canal procedure, including:

  • Tooth loosening due to a severe infection or decay
  • Hypersensitive teeth to hot or cold foods
  • Persistent toothache
  • Pain while chewing or biting
  • Swollen gum tissues near the affected tooth
  • Facial swelling
  • Pus formed around the infected or decayed tooth

In some scenarios, our dentist near Phoenix, AZ, may diagnose you using digital X-rays since the symptoms may fail to manifest, and you must make periodic visits to your dentist.

Why Does Neglecting a Root Canal have Negative Consequences?

There are numerous effects associated with negligence in undergoing a root canal procedure. Your oral infection might spread to your gum tissues and jaw bone leading to bone loss. Bacterial infection may also lead to life-threatening complications. Some of the issues that may occur due to the failure to undergo root canal treatment include:

Tooth Loss

If your condition remains untreated, your infection may lead to severe decay. Once your tooth root decays, it becomes difficult to save your natural tooth, and a dental extraction is necessary.

Drainage

Bacteria may thrive and cause damage to your tooth to the extent that a hole forms on your tooth. The infection drains into the adjacent tissues, skin, and bloodstream. If the bacterial infection enters your bloodstream, it can cause a sepsis-a potentially life-threatening condition that can damage multiple organs.

Dental Abscess

oral infection on your mouth tissues leads to the formation of dental abscess-a condition that leads to the formation of pus-filled pockets. If the disease affects your tooth root, you’ll need to undergo an extensive or emergency procedure.

Bone Loss

Failure to undergo a root canal for a long may lead to a bacterial attack on your tooth root leading to severe bone deterioration. Additionally, eventual outcomes may be adverse, leading to bone loss.

Swelling and Pressure

You may experience facial swelling with increased pressure on other body parts. Your pain may lessen as nerves begin to die and eventually lead to toothache. Your tooth feeling may also fade and turn color.

Systemic Inflammation

A tooth infection can lead to inflammation that spreads to other body organs. Systemic inflammation is life-threatening and can lead to severe health issues, including heart-related complications or stroke.

Can Your Tooth That Requires a Root Canal Heal Itself?

Your infected tooth pulp can’t heal, and you’ll need to undergo root canal therapy. An infection on your tooth causes tooth feeling to disappear, and pain ends as a sign that the nerve inside the pulp chamber has died. Despite your pain fading, the infection is still present inside your tooth. An untreated tooth may cause the spread of a bacterial infection to your jawbone that may require an extensive dental procedure in the long run. At ESP Dental, we examine your infected, damaged, or decayed tooth and determine whether a root canal procedure is ideal. Please seek help from our experts on your dental status to ensure you are free from infection and severe oral health complications.