Going to the dentist isn't any fun, but it is one of those things that just has to be done. For years, I fought the process and didn't go for my regular cleanings and in the end, it sure didn't pay to do so. I ended up spending ten times as much time in the chair and a boat-load of money in dental repairs. If you don't like going to the dentist, you can make it easier on yourself. This blog will show you a few tips that can help you improve the experience and get through the treatment without as much discomfort.
going to the dentist with less anxiety
A Broken Dental Filling After Root Canal Treatment: What It Could Mean
Jordan Arnold
As part of root canal treatment, a tooth's center is essentially hollowed out. This center contains the tooth's nerve, housed in the pulp chamber. The infection of this nerve has triggered a lot of pain, and it has the potential to spread, which is why the infected nerve will be removed. Post-treatment, the tooth will be sealed with a filling. What does it mean when that filling breaks weeks, months, or even years down the line? Does your root canal need further attention?
A Hollow Core
The removal of a tooth's nerve leaves a hollow pulp chamber. This could weaken the tooth, leaving it unable to withstand a standard range of bite pressure without breaking. This is why root canals don't just involve the removal of an infected nerve. The empty pulp chamber must be filled with sterile dental latex. This reinforces the tooth's structure, meaning it no longer has a hollow core.
A Temporary Filling
The tooth is closed with a temporary filling, followed by a brief period of monitoring. Your dentist needs to be sure that all infected nerve tissues have been removed from the tooth. If your symptoms don't improve after the procedure, it indicates that infected tissue remains in the tooth. The temporary filling allows the dentist to easily access the tooth again if needed. Once your dentist is satisfied with the success of the procedure, the tooth is closed with a permanent, tooth-colored filling.
Missing Structure
If this filling should ever break or otherwise deteriorate, it doesn't mean that your root canal was unsuccessful. It may mean that your tooth needs additional reinforcement. Some of the tooth's outer structure must be sacrificed so that a dentist can access the tooth's nerve by creating an access cavity. This missing structure is replaced with the filling that finishes your root canal treatment. The larger a filling is, the weaker it is. A filling that conceals a significant access cavity may not be able to withstand the bite pressure the tooth experiences each day. It may break.
Dental Crowns
If a filling in a root canal-treated tooth breaks, see your dentist immediately. The tooth must be treated to prevent its breakage (as the tooth is considerably weakened without its filling). Your dentist will assess the damage, but it's unlikely that your filling will just be replaced. The tooth may need to be prepared for a porcelain dental crown, to be fitted over the entire tooth.
Dental crowns are routine for rear teeth after root canals (molars and premolars, which handle your heavy chewing). With front teeth, dental crowns are added as needed, and this need may only become apparent when your filling encounters problems.
For more info about root canals, contact a local company.
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