How Many Times Can I Get A Root Canal On The Same Tooth?

Good oral hygiene habits are essential to fortify and protect the various parts of the teeth from infection and damage. A visible tooth has a crown and a root which attach it to the gums and jawbone. Inside the tooth root is one of the most important parts of a tooth, known as the pulp. The tooth pulp is responsible for the innervation, moisturization, nourishment, and defense of the tooth. However, cavities, injury, decay, etc., cause the tooth pulp and nerve to become inflamed and damaged. In this case, you need endodontic treatment.

Endodontic treatment, commonly referred to as root canal procedure, is a dental treatment that a dentist in Phoenix, AZ, performs to treat infection at the center of a tooth to save it and prevent extraction. Unknown to most people, the root canal is a part of the tooth. The hollow section of the tooth houses the blood vessels, nerve tissues, pulp, and other cells. Although this part of the tooth is responsible for the life of the tooth, it becomes infected when it comes in contact with bacteria. That mainly happens as a result of tooth decay caused by dental plaques.

Dental plaques form through an interaction of saliva, food particles, and bacteria in the mouth. They are slimy films of bacteria that stick to the front teeth. By feeding on starchy/sugary food particles, dental plaques produce acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. These acids also infect the tooth pulp and cause severe pain. A dentist removes the affected tooth pulp through a root canal procedure at En canto Family Dental Care, then cleans and seals the root canal.

How Do You Know When You Need A Root Canal Procedure?

The following are the symptoms of a tooth pulp infection:

• Sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold temperatures.
• Severe and persistent toothache pain while chewing or applying pressure to the teeth.
• Tooth discoloration as a result of a damaged tooth root.
• Swelling and inflammation of the gums near the affected tooth.
• Painful pockets of pus on the gum (tooth abscess).

Refusal or late root canal treatment causes the bacterial infection to spread throughout your bloodstream; therefore, visit dental offices near you to check out these symptoms.

Root Canal Treatment Procedure

The first thing your dentist will do is to perform a physical examination of your mouth and take a dental x-ray of the area for a better diagnosis. The examination also helps them determine the extent of the damage.

The procedure usually begins with administering a local anesthetic to numb the affected tooth and reduce your discomfort during the procedure. To isolate your teeth keep them clean and protected from saliva and other substances during the process, your dentist puts a small protective sheet, known as a dental dam, in your mouth. Your dentist removes any decay/debris and drills into your tooth crown to open it. That gives your dentist access to your pulp chamber and root canals which they will clean out before removing the infected pulp with the aid of specialized instruments.

The dentist cleans the remaining space with antibacterial and antiseptic solutions before shaping to receive dental fillings, which will replace the removed infected tooth pulp. Next, they will fill the root canal with materials like gutta-percha and then seal it with adhesive dental cement to prevent future bacterial infections. Finally, a dental crown that matches the color of your natural teeth will go over the affected tooth for long-term protection.

How Many Times Can You Get A Root Canal Procedure On The Same Tooth?

A dentist can repeat a root canal treatment on a tooth two or more times. While teeth that undergo a root canal procedure can last a lifetime, some of these teeth may not heal properly due to salivary contamination and other reasons. That causes it to develop new problems some months or years after the first treatment; therefore, your dentist might perform retreatment or a second root to allow you to keep your tooth for a lifetime.