Why You Shouldn't Delay Your Root Canal Treatment

Try this: Walk up to a friend and mention “root canal.” Then stand back and watch their face.

Chances are, they’ll react with horror or fear at the thought of this supposedly painful procedure. In reality, it’s relatively painless. It’s the problem that necessitates the root canal that’s painful.

That problem is exactly why you need a root canal. At Smile Design Manhattan in New York City, our team members are experts in the procedure. Based on our experience, here’s why you shouldn’t delay your root canal treatment.

Why you need a root canal

Your teeth are covered by hard enamel, but sometimes enamel develops chips or cracks, allowing bacteria inside your tooth. (That often happens when a cavity isn’t treated.) The inner tooth is filled with pulp, made up of connective tissue, blood vessels, and sensitive nerves.

The invading bacteria infect the pulp, making it inflamed and painful. A root canal is a dental procedure to relieve this pain by cleaning out the infected pulp, disinfecting the area, and sealing it with a filling.

Signs you may need a root canal include tooth discomfort that turns to pain, sensitivity to heat and cold, and swollen gums.

Why you shouldn’t delay treatment

If you do need a root canal, you should have the procedure as soon as possible for several reasons.

Your condition won’t improve on its own; in fact, it gets worse and worse. Infection that spreads beyond your tooth could cause problems in your gums and jaw. It could even enter your bloodstream and lead to serious illness.

Root canal treatment not only cleans out the infection and stops the spread of infection, but it also relieves your pain and restores normal function. Delaying treatment simply delays relief.

Plus, if you wait too long for treatment, you risk losing the tooth. Pus-filled abscesses can form, and the infection can spread to the root of the tooth.

If you lose a tooth, your jawbone loses the stimulation the tooth provides, and the bone can wear away. So rather than a root canal, you’re now looking to replace the tooth with an implant or bridge. It’s better for your health (and wallet) to take care of the problem as soon as possible.

If you’re dealing with pain in your tooth and need a root canal, don’t put it off. Our team is ready to help. Call our Midtown West office at 646-278-4579 to schedule an appointment, or book your visit online today.