Dental emergencies are frequent in the daily routine of a dental practice, and one of the most common is a fractured tooth that had previously received canal treatment.
In most cases, the tooth in question (despite having endodontic treatment), had not been properly restored. Improperly treated canals nearly always result in painful, costly emergencies down the line.
Simply put, canal treatments consist of removing tissues that make up the dental pulp from within various tooth ducts, then sealing them with the appropriate material. This treatment typically becomes necessary with deep cavities, or in the case of trauma or fracture, causing the pulp to become infected or necrotic.
Root canal treatment typically leaves the tooth more brittle due to the loss of its internal hydration, and because the dentist has to remove a considerable amount of dental tissue to access the canals. When root canal treatment is required to address deep cavities, the affected area becomes further aggravated during the necessary removal of excess decay.
How Tooth Damage Occurs After a Root Canal
In cases that result in fractures, I've often observed that the impacted tooth had not received adequate protection after endodontic treatment with root canal therapy. Teeth with treated canals and very large fillings are often great candidates for fracture. The correct treatment is usually to protect the remaining dental structure with a dental crown, which covers the tooth as a whole and ensures that forces generated on the tooth will be evenly distributed so the tooth can be preserved.
Unknowingly, patients can aggravate matters further by ignoring fractured teeth with treated canals, because the tooth no longer has innervation (e.g. it does not hurt). The dangers of doing this is that the tooth will eventually break even more, making it no longer viable. In such a case, what could have been resolved with a simple procedure will result in an extraction, bone grafting and replacement of the tooth by implant or different types of prostheses.
Preserving Your Teeth with Advanced Technology and Dental Expertise
Fortunately, great advancements have been made, to ensure accurate determination of root canal spaces. Electronic apex locators can assure utmost precision in determining canal positions and lengths, then for treated root canals to stay healed over the years, state-of-the-art obturation technology ensures canals are filled completely and densely, with airtight seals.
In summary, particularly when it comes to root canals, my advice is to ensure your dentist has the adequate experience and top-notch technology to offer you the best treatment possible. Ensure your root canal is sealed with a dental crown or other protective restoration to guard the impacted tooth against future fractures.
Avoid opting for cheaper treatment solutions, because a wrong choice can initiate a snowball effect that will end up not only costing more money in treatment fees, but also contributes to eventual tooth loss.
For more information on advanced root canal therapy and emergency dental care, contact Lake Lucerne Dentistry.
