A tooth root contains nerves and blood vessels that are important for tooth development, but are not necessary for adult teeth. Sometimes, due to a deep cavity or fracture, an infection can develop in the root tissue, causing intense pain. And even if the infection doesn’t cause pain, or the pain eventually goes away, the infection in your tooth will persist unless it’s treated. It will spread through the jawbone, causing further problems, and eventually leading to tooth loss. Tooth devitalization, also known as root canal treatment or endodontic treatment, helps you avoid this situation by stopping the infection at its source.
Why do so many people fear a root canal? Because they mistakenly think it’s painful. In reality, a root canal doesn’t cause pain; it relieves it.
This treatment can be carried out by your general dentist or by a specialist called an endodontist.
Any discomfort you may feel a day or two after root canal treatment can be managed with painkillers. After this treatment, the infection will be gone, along with the pain, and the tooth will be out of danger. In most cases, the restored tooth will last as long as any of your natural teeth, provided it is well protected, usually by a crown or onlay.
Did you know that the health of your mouth affects the health of your whole body?
When you have a bacterial infection in your mouth, these same bacteria move into your bloodstream, and therefore throughout your body.
Infection can spread to neighboring structures: tongue, throat, sinuses, etc., and through the bloodstream. Eventually, the infection can reach the heart, lungs, digestive system, kidneys and joints (with major risks for people fitted with hip or knee prostheses, for example).
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