Do you need multiple root canals? In America, a quarter of the entire adult population ignores their dental problems and conditions. What’s more disturbing is that, still, over 15 million root canal treatments and therapies take place every year in America. Among many dental concerns, there is an ever-growing need for better root canal treatments as people often face tooth pulp-related decay and infections.
However, it is now safe to assume that the growing awareness among Americans is resulting in increased dental visits. To your knowledge, in early 2019, nearly 65 percent of adults in the US made dental appointments! Let’s go over the root canal treatments.
What Does a Root Canal Entail?
Your teeth make up the hardest tissue in your entire body. The outer (white) layer that you see is the enamel. Under the enamel, you’ll find a layer of dentin. Likewise, as you move to the center of the tooth, you’ll get a center of soft tissue. This is the pulp, and it contains roots that go to your gums (to the jawbone).
In case of a root canal treatment, your endodontist removes the pulp due to an infection or inflammation, which eventually leads to extensive decay. Hence, root canals preserve the teeth while preventing further damage to your oral health.
When to Get Root Canals?
2016 studies suggest that the symptoms hinting towards the necessity of getting root canals might vary from person to person. Why? Well, different forms of bacteria show different symptoms. Therefore, knowing a few common warning signs can help you get preemptive dental care, i.e., root canals, to ensure your oral health.
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What are the Warning Signs?
- Heat and Cold Sensitivity
Does it hurt after you take a bite of ice cream? Perhaps, from a sip of hot coffee? This happens when the nerves in the jaw are exposed to the infected pulp. In this case, seek dental care from your endodontist or general dentist.
- Pain
Frequent, recurring, and long-lasting pain in your tooth (or teeth) is a sign that you might need a root canal treatment. The deep pain in your jawbone may even spread towards other teeth. Hence, prompt dental care is critical.
- Gums Swelling
The dead (decayed) pulp produces waste products (acidic in nature) that can lead to deterioration of the gum condition (edema). Thus, gums may swell and hurt at the slightest touch.
- A Loose and/ or Chipped Tooth
The decayed pulp can damage the base of the tooth, resulting in a loose tooth. Therefore, your affected tooth might feel mobile in comparison to other teeth. Moreover, in case of a face or mouth injury, you might experience nerve damage. What happens in that? For starters, bacteria might set in and start infecting the pulp. Conclusion? Severe infections that can require multiple root canals!
Let’s take a look at the root canal process briefly.
The Root Canal Process
The process begins with administering local anesthesia to the patient. After this, your gums around the affected tooth become numb, allowing your endodontist to conduct pulp removal (i.e., root canal) without causing you pain.
After removal of the infected pulp, deep cleaning and disinfection of the tooth canal lower the chances of further infection spread. Finally, after filling the tooth canal and sealing it with soft paste, your endodontist might suggest crown placement. Crowns improve the appearance of your tooth while protecting it from saliva post-procedure.
Multiple Root Canals- How and why does it happen?
Did you know that leaving the infected pulp in your teeth can lead to deterioration and the spread of infection to the other parts of your mouth? All in all, other teeth are susceptible if one tooth suffers from the infected or inflamed pulp. Therefore, thinking about whether you need multiple root canals or not is a considerably intelligent decision!
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Though, a root canal is not a one-day procedure itself. That is, it takes a few days for your endodontist to ensure the adequate safety of your tooth and prevent any further infection spread after removing the decayed pulp.
So the question about multiple root canals, “how will this work?” is relatively simple. Multiple root canals occur when more than one tooth in your mouth has infected pulp, so you require multiple procedures to remove them. Furthermore, your endodontist will ensure a comfortable schedule for multiple root canal procedures. This way, they help avoid unexpected pain or complications that may occur.
Multiple Root Canals: Conclusion
Overall, multiple root canals are a common aspect of dental procedures. But if you want comfortable procedures and dental care, your goal should be to seek the best endodontist.
Bryant Park Endodontics, at 30 East 40th Street Suite 1201, New York, NY 10016, offers one of the best endodontists in Manhattan, Young Bui DDS. Being a knowledgeable and expert endodontist with specialties in root canals and similar procedures, Dr. Bui ensures compassionate dental care to his patients.
Give us a call at 646-205-3045 to schedule an appointment today to care for your precious smile. Visit Bryant Park Endodontics’s official website here, and learn more.