Root Canal Coney Island NY

I Have a Rotting Tooth, do I Need a Root Canal?

Issues with your teeth aren’t just an aesthetic problem. Teeth and your mouth play an important part in day-to-day life, from eating to talking, smiling, drinking, and more. But if you have a tooth that is starting to rot and is causing you a lot of pain, what should you do to remedy the situation? Leaving it alone will lead to increased pain and eventually a dead root nerve, chipped tooth, terrible sensitivity, and falling out teeth. Let’s take a look at what you should be doing if you have a bad toothache and a rotting tooth or teeth. 

Identifying a Rotting Tooth

Root Canal Coney Island NY
Root Canal Coney Island NY

A “rotten” tooth is a tooth that has decayed severely over time. This can happen slowly over several months or in the space of a few short weeks and is typically very painful for the patient. When we don’t properly care for our oral health, our teeth will start to form cavity decay due to a build-up of bacteria and irregular care. You can identify rotting teeth in a few ways:

  • Persistent severe pain in a single tooth (spontaneous or seemingly without cause)
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Tooth or teeth turn brown or black
  • Teeth easily chip or has visible holes
  • Pain when chewing or speaking
  • Oral pain while working, trying to sleep, throughout the day, at all times, etc.

This is just the start of it. If left untreated, a rotting tooth can lead to some serious complications:

  • Complications of daily life
  • Inability to chew properly due to severe pain or missing teeth
  • Weight loss stemming from painful eating
  • Tooth or teeth fall out, causing mental stress and depression
  • A tooth abscess: pus that causes a painful bacterial infection in the tooth. If left untreated, this one can turn deadly!

Preventing Rotting Teeth Starts at Home

Your dentist doesn’t make sure you brush twice a day and floss at least once a day when you’re not in the dental chair. Preventing severe cavities and rotting teeth starts with you at home and good dental habits. Start with:

  • Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing
  • Visit your dentist on a regular basis (6 months)
  • Avoid sugary foods and frequent snacking
  • Eat food good for your teeth like vegetables and sugarless drinks
  • Consider fluoride treatments
  • Always brush before bed
  • and more

But if you are already experiencing a rotting tooth that is severely painful, we’re past the point of prevention. 

I Have a Rotting Tooth that is Killing Me, Now What?

If you have one or more rotting teeth that are past the point of preventative dentistry, it’s time to start considering your options moving forwards. Depending on the stage of decay, a Root Canal can likely save the tooth and prevent a complete extraction or the need for a dental implant. But you have to get to the dentist to find out how far your tooth has decayed. Then your dentist can go over your options under the current condition of the tooth.  

A root canal can save a rotten tooth when:

  • a filling cannot fix the cavity/decay
  • the root of the tooth is still healthy and intact

If the tooth’s root is gone or rotting, this won’t be an option and you’ll need the tooth extracted. A few months after the extraction your dentist will do an x-ray to see how much bone has filled in where the tooth used to be. Then the dentist will know if dental implant surgery is possible or if a bridge will be required to fix the missing tooth or teeth. 

Rotting and decaying teeth are preventable. Rotting and decaying teeth are also some of the most common dental problems people face across the planet. 

Finding the Right Dentist in Kings County

Coney Island Dental has specialized for nearly 40 years in all things dental health. We urge our patients to come for regular visits and practice good oral habits at home to prevent the need for a Root Canal Coney Island NY. But life happens! If you have a mouth problem caused by rotting teeth, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment today. We help over 4,000 Coney Island residents achieve the smile they’ve dreamed of year in and year out. Call today and schedule your appointment.

(718) 766-8883

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