It’s common – and even understandable – to want to put off your root canal as long as possible. After all, root canals get a bad reputation.
But the reality is that waiting on dental work rarely leads to a better outcome. Delaying a root canal won’t make the problem go away on its own, and putting it off only sets you up for more pain, more inconvenience, and more dental work down the line.
Top Reasons to Schedule Your Root Canal ASAP
If you’re procrastinating on scheduling your treatment, stop! Here are the five biggest reasons not to delay your root canal, and why your future self will thank you for getting it done.
1- Save Your Tooth
What many don’t realize is that the main purpose of a root canal is to save your tooth when decay or infection gets too deep for a simple filling. But if you keep putting it off, the tooth gets weaker and could be lost altogether.
Losing a tooth is the last thing we want as a dentist. A lost tooth can not only inhibit chewing and speech, but can also lead to misalignment of neighboring teeth and even bone loss. And while there are replacement options, most of the time, saving your natural tooth is far better for your smile than replacing it with an artificial one. While an implant is your best option for preventing these complications, it can be time-consuming and a significant investment. For those reasons, we always want to save your natural teeth when we can!
2- Prevent the Infection from Spreading
The most common reason for a root canal is an infection of the tissue inside a tooth. If you give the infection time, the bacteria will continue to spread.
A tooth infection does not stay confined to your tooth. If you wait to get treatment, the bacteria can travel down through the root and push into your surrounding jawbone. This often creates a dental abscess, which is a painful pocket of pus that forms at the base of the tooth.
Worse still, the infection can easily enter your bloodstream. Once bacteria travel through your body, they can reach other vital organs. This can lead to severe, life-threatening systemic conditions like sepsis. Getting your root canal done early stops the bacteria in their tracks and protects your entire body.
3- Relieve Your Pain
Many people avoid the dentist because they fear the procedure will hurt. In reality, the infection within your tooth is what causes that severe, persistent pain. The pressure builds up rapidly inside the tooth, causing intense pain that over-the-counter medications cannot fix.
A root canal releases the pressure and removes the damaged nerves and inflamed tissue, completely eliminating the source of the pain. By scheduling your treatment, you can finally get the relief you need to sleep, eat, and live comfortably again.
4- Save Money and Time
Delaying dental work almost always leads to higher bills down the road. If you wait too long and end up losing the tooth, you may need to pay for a surgical extraction. After that, you will need to invest in a costly bridge or dental implant to fill the gap and keep your other teeth from shifting.
Implants and bridges take multiple visits and months of healing time. Getting a root canal and a crown right away is a much faster, more affordable way to resolve the issue.
5- Stop Your Stressing
Knowing you have an untreated dental problem can be extremely stressful. The constant worry paired with persistent pain adds unnecessary anxiety to your daily life.
Taking care of the problem immediately lifts that mental burden. Once the procedure is behind you, you can rest easy knowing your smile is healthy, and your pain is in the past.
Protect Your Oral Health Today
Don’t let fear or a busy schedule put your health at risk. A root canal is a safe, effective way to protect your smile. Plus, it is far less painful than you have been led to believe!
If you are experiencing tooth pain or your dentist recommends this treatment, call us today to schedule your appointment.