What Happens If I Delay a Recommended Root Canal?

Root canal therapy (aka, a root canal) is a type of oral surgery. The goal of a root canal is removing the tooth’s pulp (nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissues within the tooth) when it’s severely infected or inflamed. 

At Pioneer Dental Group, our highly experienced dentist, Dr. Behzad Binafard, and elite dental care team may recommend root canal therapy if your tooth is at risk. We provide only the best for our patients, from our sedation protocols to our specialized dentistry techniques. Our gentle approach makes root canals easier so you can save your tooth and stop the pain.

One of our major goals in our practice is educating our patients about their oral health. We share information with our patients through this blog and during regular dental appointments so you can make informed decisions. This month, we’re talking about what can happen if you delay a recommended root canal.

Reasons that patients delay root canals 

There are a few reasons that patients may delay root canals. Many people experience dental anxiety or are worried about pain during the procedure. Others may be worried about the cost of the procedure. But, both of these things only get worse if you delay a root canal. 

What happens if you delay a root canal 

Delaying a root canal has effects that you won’t like. These include:

Spreading infection

Infection may spread beyond the affected tooth. If you don’t treat the tooth now, the infection can move into the bordering teeth or even work its way into the jaw bone. You could develop a tooth abscess (a pocket of pus around the tooth). Ultimately, the infection could spread throughout your body and potentially put your life at risk.

Emergency treatment

Delaying a root canal may lead to emergency treatment in the future. You could end up with extreme pain and a severe infection, requiring immediate tooth extraction. This type of dental care can be costly and complicated.

Tooth replacement

If you lose a tooth, there’s a new gap in your mouth. You need to fill that gap with a functional tooth to avoid problems chewing and to prevent your other teeth from shifting out of position. Replacing a tooth, for example getting a dental implant, requires major surgery and is much more expensive and time consuming than getting the root canal when you need it. 

Scheduling your root canal now can prevent pain, treat your infection, save your tooth, and save you money in the long term. The bottom line is, there’s no good reason to delay a root canal. 

Root canals at Pioneer Dental Group are virtually painless with our sedation and anesthesia protocols. Recovery usually takes just a few days. 

If you have questions about root canal therapy, our team is glad to provide the answers. Contact us online or phone our Norwalk, California, office to connect with us now.