If you have just visited the dentist about a problem tooth and they advised you that a filling won't do, that you need a root canal, you might be a little shocked. The thing about root canals is that they are much more invasive and certainly more expensive than a simple filling. However, before assuming that the suggestion is just to get more money out of you, you will want to learn about the reasons a root canal is commonly suggested. There are reasons why a simple filling will no longer do the trick if you want to keep your natural tooth. Here are some of those reasons:
The Decay Runs Deep
Do you have a major cavity in your tooth that is visible to the naked eye? If so, you might find that the hole runs a little deeper than you realize. When you go to the dentist, they will take an x-ray of your teeth and this will tell them how bad that cavity is, as well as if there are any other cavities starting to form on other teeth. If the decayed area is so bad that it runs deep and is very close to the nerves, you will most likely be told that you need to have a root canal. The dentist cannot risk trying to clean out that decay and hitting, and therefore destroy, the nerves.
There Is A Big Crack In Your Tooth
If you have a big crack in your tooth, there is usually not much that can be done for it besides an extraction or a root canal. If you end up with an extraction, you will then be left without a tooth in that spot unless you want to pay for an implant. Since you will probably have an easier time getting your dental insurance to pay for the root canal, that might be the option to go for. Not only will that be the more affordable option, but it allows you to keep your natural tooth.
As you can see, there are some very good reasons why a dentist may suggest that you need a root canal instead of a less invasive treatment. Trust their recommendation and go ahead and set up the appointment to have the procedure started. Since it can take a couple of trips to the dentist for the root canal and crown placement, from start to finish, you will want to go ahead and get this process started.
