When an endodontist says you need a root canal, it’s easy to feel hesitant. The idea of such dental work can leave you wanting to skip the treatment process. That being said, it’s best to get a root canal when a dental provider suggests one; you’ll face a lot of downsides otherwise. You could even lose one of your teeth if you’re especially unlucky! As for the exact details, just keep reading to learn what happens if you don’t get a root canal.
What Happens When You Skip a Root Canal?
A qualified dentist will only suggest a root canal when you truly need one. Given that fact, skipping out on treatment would lead to various problems. These include the following:
Your Mouth Will Hurt More
A toothache that a root canal would fix won’t resolve itself. Left alone, it’ll just cause more and worse pain in your mouth.
Remember, a root canal treats your tooth infection. Going without one means bacteria will keep irritating your tooth’s pulp – its inner nerves and tissue. In that case, your pearly white will continue to send more intense pain signals to your brain. You’ll then suffer with a painful tooth longer than you need to.
You Could Lose Your Tooth
Pain isn’t the only problem you’ll have without a root canal. In reality, you’ll also be at a much higher risk of losing your precious tooth.
You see, the infection inside a tooth won’t just stay there over time. It’ll likely reach the bone under your tooth’s roots if left untreated, leading to the slow erosion of your jaw. That would lead to your tooth falling out or being pulled by a dentist, as you’d lack the bone structure to support it. The infecting bacteria could also spread to other teeth and cause them to fall out, too.
Your Infection Will Spread Widely
In the worst-case scenario, skipping a root canal can be downright deadly. The treatment would help you avoid a life-threatening outcome.
The issue is that your tooth’s infection could eventually enter your bloodstream. Once it reaches the tooth pulp, it’ll have access to blood vessels through which to travel. You’d then be at high risk of sepsis – an issue that occurs when your body overreacts to an infection. Often, the condition can prove lethal due to the damage it does to multiple crucial organs.
Don’t Delay: See an Endodontist
Rather than face the above effects, you should quickly see an endodontist. They’ll perform the root canal you need before anything awful can happen.
In essence, an endodontist is a dentist who focuses on complex tooth problems. They’re specially trained and equipped to treat a tooth’s pulp with root canals and similar services. By doing so, they ensure patients can avoid more severe dental issues down the line.
Ultimately, you won’t like what happens if you don’t get a root canal. Make sure to see your dental provider for treatment soon!
About the Practice
Parkway Endodontics is based in Lorain, OH. Led by Drs. Vaziri and James, our practice has been helping patients with infected teeth for nearly thirty years. We maintain this record by providing top-tier endodontics like root canal therapy, re-treatment work, and emergency dental care! That way, your smile is sure to get the healing it needs in a timely manner. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (440)-960-2660.