How Can Your Dentist Prevent A Sealing Issue After A Root Canal Treatment?
An internal tooth infection is a serious problem that your dentist is going to want to treat right away. And treatment is usually completed with a root canal. There are some issues that can lead to complications with the common treatment. These include problems with the internal tooth seal. Find out about the issue and what your dentist will do to prevent the problem.
Root Canal Sealing Problems
A root canal is a process that takes a bit of time to complete. This ensures full cleaning of the root and the removal of all bacteria. Bacterial removal is essential or the microorganisms will find their way up into the mouth or down to the jaw. And both of these things can lead to an infection.
Once bacteria are removed, the tooth root is then sealed off. A pliable and rubbery material is used for this purpose that can be molded into the tooth and left to cure. A resin seal is created over the top opening to prevent food, bacteria, saliva, and other debris from getting into the tooth.
However, the resin seal can be broken over time due to force on the tooth. Any crack or opening will let bacteria into the tooth, and it can start to work its way around the rubber filling. If an infection starts at this time, your dentist may be unable to clean out the tooth a second time. This has a lot to do with the decreased integrity of the tooth once the pulp is removed. The tooth may then need to be removed.
How Can A Dentist Prevent A Sealing Problem?
Your dentist can eliminate some of the sealing issues after a root canal by adding a crown to the tooth. The crown creates an extra barrier between the mouth and the root cavity. The crown should be secured very soon after the root canal treatment.
Depending on the condition of your treated tooth, you may need to wear a temporary crown first. Alternatively, your dentist may decide to medicate the tooth before crown adhesion. Medications are able to kill bacteria that your dentist was unable to reach during the initial root canal. This can help to create a healthier tooth in the long run.
Once your permanent crown is attached, you must take good care of it. While it is rare, bacteria can work their way underneath the crown to create decay. The decay can then spread to the tooth interior. This will cause the same sort of failure issue as a broken seal would, so clean around the edges of the crown two times a day and look for any black spots that indicate decay.
To learn more about root canals, contact a dentist.
