Posted by writeradmin
A while ago my dentist told me he thought my tooth needed a root canal treatment. I did not have enough money for one and he wasn’t willing to let me pay later, so it had to wait. I’ve been saving up. It’s been a while and now the tooth doesn’t hurt a bit and hasn’t for a while. Is it still necessary for me to get the root canal treatment? If so, how much longer can it be put off without a problem?
Beringer
Dear Beringer,
If the tooth is not hurting and has not for a while, then I would not consider it a dental emergency. You could continue to put off the root canal treatment. You have what is known as an arrested infection. There is not a definitive answer for how long that will last, however.
I can give you some general guidelines as to when you would need to get treatment.
- If the tooth starts to hurt again, even a little bit, then it is time to get the root canal treatment. Once the infection has become active again it can blow up fast.
- If you have a pimple on your gums or any sort of drainage. This is known as an abscess and does need to be treated.
Other than the two situations directly above, you are likely safe to wait. However, there is a risk. Even with an infection that is not actively growing, there is a chance that you will end up with external resorption. When this happens, the infection slowly eats away at the root of the tooth. Eventually, the tooth is not longer saveable. If that happens, a root canal treatment will not do you any good. Instead, the tooth will have to be extracted and then replaced. That will cost a lot more money than a simple root canal treatment.
If you do end up having to replace the tooth, the best replacement is a dental implant.
This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. John Theriot.