Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the structure and function of our natural teeth. Whenever there is an issue with the way our teeth are formed and arranged in our mouth, orthodontics is used to channel the body’s heat to straighten the teeth and bring them in their natural position. The most common example of orthodontics that we know is dental braces, with thin metal wires that are used for shaping.
Another very well-known treatment in the field of dentistry is the root canal treatment. When the infection in a tooth reaches the inner pulp of a tooth and begins to inflame the nerves inside, the resulting pain is excruciating. The solution to this is to remove the infected pulp inside, clean the nerves, and fill the hollowed tooth with an inert dental filling. This means that the tooth is just a shell that is filled to add strength.
However, because no issues ever come with a warning, what happens when root canal needs to be followed by an orthodontic treatment? Or if you already have braces, how can you get a root canal treatment caused by tooth decay? To answer such pressing issues of dental health and care, here is a detailed look at the correlation between the 2 popular and common treatments.
Braces after Root Canal Treatment
Considering that you have had a root canal in the past, and you may be in the situation that you need braces for your treatment, it is very natural to be concerned about the health of that one tooth in your mouth. You may be concerned about its structural strength, and whether it may be able to handle the pressure.
What you must know about braces is 2 things:
- It uses the body’s heat to move the teeth, but it is also done at a time in your life when the body’s healing is at its peak. Braces surely do move your teeth in their right position, but the movement always heals the path behind their movement.
- The pressure applied by the braces is strong enough to move teeth, but gentle enough to not cause any breakage in the teeth.The key to remember here is that even under normal conditions, braces never cause any harm to the natural teeth. The major purpose of a root canal is to preserve the natural tooth by restoring its internal structure. And since the outer shell is still the same natural tooth, it holds the same structural integrity as its previous state, it will not be harmed in any manner while getting braces.
You must, however, talk to the root canal dentist about your medical history at length before getting any treatment. If it includes a root canal treatment in the past, make sure that you inform the orthodontist which tooth it was and how long has it been since you got the treatment. Rest assured, you have nothing to worry about.
Root Canal after Braces
Another common question often asked about the relationship between root canal and orthodontics is about getting root canal after getting braces. To give you a simple answer, yes you can get a root canal with braces.
There are 2 ways that this works:
- Since the braces are adhered to the front side of the tooth, and the root canal is done through the top surface of the tooth (backside of the tooth for front teeth), which puts your braces completely out of the area under observation. The dentist can easily perform a root canal without hurting your braces or you.
- Talking to your orthodontist before the root canal is another way to do things. They can simply remove the brace from the affected tooth to make the root canal easier. Even though the pressure in the braces is gentle enough to not harm your tooth, it is always easy to put someone at ease than to raise concerns.
With that out of the way, it becomes a little easier to understand that there is simply no need to panic or worry when your matters concern root canal and braces together. You can easily with the other or before the other. However, it is almost always important to talk to your doctor about your medical history.
It is important because the doctor can then work around any issues that may arise owing to your history. Plus it also helps them set your expectations straight so you know what you will be getting into if you give the treatment a green signal. Also, since prevention is always better than cure, it is important that irrespective of the fact that you have braces or not, you must maintain a certain level of dental hygiene. Brush twice, floss everyday, use mouthwash daily, eat less sugary foods, and completely avoid hard foods.