The question on everyone’s lips: why do most people need root canal treatment? Unfortunately, there may be a lot of reasons. In this big world, it can be a scary place for teeth. It’s a challenge to keep them clean! If you need a root canal treatment in San Marcos, come to AquaSprings Dental!
We believe in a brighter future for your teeth and the world. With one quick visit, we’ll Thanos-snap your problems away. Share the good news; you’ll never have to worry about a root canal treatment again.
For now, let’s go over the most common reasons why people need a root canal treatment in San Marcos:
What are the Leading Causes of Root Canals?
A root canal infection is when oral bacteria infiltrate the tooth pulp through a broken enamel or a surrounding pulp infection. Other causes could be:
- A chipped or cracked tooth.
- Fractured tooth roots.
- Tooth decay.
- Previous dental procedures.
- Damaged tooth pulp.
- Untreated cavities can decay the enamel, causing root infection.
- Root Resorption (when the body breaks down natural tissue surrounding a tooth)
No matter what caused your root infection, it’s nothing we can’t handle. After hundreds of successful root canal treatments in San Marcos, why can’t we fix yours? You can read the 5-star reviews of Dr. Alexandra Aponte, Dr. Cohl Brazil, and Dr. Maheen Khalid here.
How can I Avoid Needing a Root Canal?
Knock knock! Who’s there? The Dentist! Keep your teeth as fit as a fiddle with these healthy habits. As much as we enjoy seeing you, we’d prefer you stay home with healthy teeth. It’s certainly easier (and less painful!) to prevent root canal infections yourself. You can do this by:
- Proper Hygiene. Debris can decay teeth over time. Oral bacteria need a single crack to penetrate the tooth’s pulp. Once infected, it’s game over and time to get a root canal.
- Be Careful in Extreme Sports. Imagine this: you’re playing tackle football with friends. You catch the ball and start running like a wild banshee. You’re almost at the touchdown zone, and CRACK! Someone slams into your mouthguard. Once you’ve cracked your teeth, it’s a one-way street to pulp infection. Play safe!
- Floss! Keep oral bacteria at bay. Prevent tooth decay.
- Don’t Chew Ice. Chewing ice is a big no-no for healthy teeth. As fun as it is to chew ice, remember to “tsk-tsk” yourself when you start doing so. No matter how minor a fracture is, a single crack can trigger a domino effect of oral infection.
- Regular Checkups. Here in San Marcos, we’ve prevented a lot of root canal infections by taking care of our patients. With time, cavities decay teeth and cause pulpal infections. Not on our watch! We catch cavities early and prevent further problems.
- Highly Acid Drinks. Nothing dissolves teeth like a can of soda. While a cool beverage may sound refreshing, this cool drink dissolves the enamel and saturates your teeth with sugar. Next time someone offers you a soda, turn around and run! Your teeth will thank you.
Which Tooth Most Commonly Needs a Root Canal?
Molars are the most common tooth that needs a root canal. As molars are at the back of the mouth, keeping them clean can be a challenge. They’re prone to neglect and decay. However, any tooth can become infected and require root canal treatment.
What Happens When a Root Canal Infection is Untreated?
Nothing good. The infection will continue to spread through the bloodstream, inflame the bone marrow, and cause a world of hurt.
If untreated for long enough, however, the infected root canal can become a nightmare:
- Tooth Loss. As the bone dissolves, the tooth can become loose and fall out.
- Pain and Swelling. It’s going to hurt—a lot. The tooth will become more sensitive to pressure and heat. Gums will continue to swell, and the infection will spread to other teeth.
- Bone Infection and Osteomyelitis. The bacterial infection inflames the surrounding bone marrow as it enters the bloodstream. In extreme situations, osteomyelitis becomes life-threatening.
- Sepsis. Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to infection. The immune system will nearly shut down, and blood pressure will drop to an all-time low. Unfortunately, not everyone survives.
When do Most People get a Root Canal?
According to demographics, most root canals happen to ages 12-65, with the majority between 24-44.
How Does a Root Canal Save my Natural Tooth?
At AquaSprings Dental, our goal is simple: Remove the pulpous infection, and keep the enamel intact. Our dentists will drill into the tooth’s pulp center and replace the infected tissue with a unique rubber called gutta-percha. Once sealed, the tooth is practically immune to all other infections. We’ll then restore your tooth with a dental filling or a crown.
Are Root Canals Necessary?
In most cases, yes. We encourage root canal treatment (unless you plan on an alternative method, like implants). There’s no reason to suffer on our watch! Let our experts at San Marcos fix the problem, so you can Netflix and chill without a toothache.
Why do Root Canals Work?
Root canals work by removing the infected nerves and pulp. We will drill deep into the source of pain and clear the contaminated area. No more pain! We’ll refill the tooth’s pulp center to prevent another infection. While the tooth is dead, it can no longer be infected.
Are There Root Canal Alternatives?
Yes! Here are a few:
- Tooth Extraction is the most common alternative. We’ll replace the tooth with a dental implant or bridge by removing the entire tooth- pulp, enamel, and crown. We typically recommend this route for patients with severely damaged teeth.
- Ozone Gas. Ozone therapy has a lot of perks: it sterilizes the canal system, stimulates healing, and kills bacteria. Because it’s a gas, it can reach all the parts of your tooth.
- Pulpotomy. Known as the “baby root canal,” this procedure is most commonly used with children. Pulpotomy is very similar to root canal therapy, except the tooth’s roots are carefully preserved so the tooth may continue to grow. At San Marcos, we want your children to have healthy smiles.
What Does a Root Canal Feel Like?
Mild pressure. As our dentists numb the entire area with an anesthetic and a numbing needle, it couldn’t be easier!
Why Do I Need a Root Canal Even if I Don’t Feel Pain?
Pain isn’t a necessary symptom for an infected or inflamed tooth. It’s not uncommon for us to recommend root canal treatment during a routine checkup. With the power of X-rays and modern technology, it’s easy to see what’s inside your teeth. Once oral bacteria has reached the tooth’s pulp, it’s pretty obvious. While other methods float around, root canal treatments are the most affordable and common.
Where to get Root Canal Treatment in San Marcos, Texas?
Is Disneyland the happiest place on earth, or is it our dental office in San Marcos? Hard to say! With outstanding dentists such as Dr. Alexandra Aponte, Dr. Cohl Brazil, and Dr. Maheen Khalid, it’s easy to see why.
These passionate individuals think you look best with a smile- especially with healthy teeth. Root canal treatments are more common than you think, but with our expertise, it’s hardly inconvenient. Set an appointment here, and we’ll take care of the rest.
