Root canals are incredibly common, nearly painless, and highly successful. So if you’ve been suffering from tooth pain or sensitivity, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist and learn when to get a root canal. It could protect your tooth and save you a lot of pain and suffering.

Your teeth are strong, but poor dental care can cause the protective enamel that encases your teeth to break down. When this happens, your teeth become sensitive and more vulnerable to fractures and cavities. This is when your tooth’s root can become infected. Each tooth has soft tissue that runs through the tooth’s canals. The tissue is made up of nerves and blood vessels, which provide vital nourishment to the tooth. When a cavity or fracture is left untreated, that pulpy( pulp tester ), soft tissue becomes infected and causes pain – that’s when to get a root canal.

The primary problem with teeth that are cracked in two pieces and left untreated is that the cracks will likely get much worse over time. This tends to happen in much the same way as a cracked windshield in a car. The crack will typically spread until the entire tooth breaks off into two pieces. In most cases, the crack encompasses the entire tooth from the nerve up to the surface. A root canal might be necessary to repair a cracked tooth in a person who has a tooth crack.

Root canals are a common procedure used to save your tooth once infection sets in. If untreated, the infection can spread and cause damage to surrounding bone. Once this happens, there’s a greater risk of losing your tooth. Maybe you need the dental endodontic instruments.

To remove the infection and stop it from spreading, a small opening is created at the top of the tooth. From this opening, the tooth’s nerve is removed from the canal, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned before the canals are filled with a rubber-like material. Filling in the now-empty canals helps to seal them from future infection. Once complete, a temporary filling is placed onto the tooth until a permanent filling or crown is ready.

Swelling around your gums and lips will last for a few hours after the root canal, and lingering swelling can last for a few days. Don’t be alarmed if your tooth is still sensitive. This is normal following a root canal, but talk with your dentist about what to expect during recovery. Avoid chewing hard foods until a permanent crown is put on, and talk with your dentist about long-term care for the afflicted tooth. Root canals have a high success rate, but like all of your teeth, they can be damaged if they are not taken care of properly. Good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist are key to maintaining the condition of your teeth whether you’ve had a root canal or not.