What Is the Cause of a Root Canal?

If your dentist has just delivered the news that you need root canal therapy in Markham, you may be wondering what caused the problem. Actually, there are several conditions that can lead to damage of the pulp or nerve in the tooth.

A Cavity

Untreated cavities continue to grow larger, eventually going deep into the tooth and reaching the pulp. This infects the pulp with bacteria, leading either to inflammation and pain or decayed tissue. Both situations require root canal treatment Markham.

An Abscess

An abscess is a type of infection that occurs when the pulp in the tooth dies. This leaves a pocket of pus at the end of the root around the dead nerve tissue. When an abscess is the cause of your root canal treatment, you may notice a bump on your gums or feel the pus draining from the abscess, leading to a bad taste in your mouth.

Trauma to the Mouth

If you suffer an injury to the face, the nerve in a tooth may detach from the root and die. Sometimes, this happens at the time of the trauma, but in other cases, it occurs years later.

Fractured Teeth

Injuries that lead to a severe fracture in the tooth (where the crack reaches through the tooth into the pulp) also need root canal treatment.

Multiple Dental Procedures

Repeated dental procedures on the same tooth lead to stress and cause the pulp to become inflamed. If inflammation is irreversible, you will need root canal therapy.

Root Resorption

Root resorption is a defect of the root. It has a number of causes, including trauma to the tooth, tooth re-plantation, and forceful moving of the tooth during other dental procedures. If root resorption leads the root to enter the pulp, you will need root canal therapy in addition to treatment to repair the defect.