“You need a root canal,” your dentist told you before referring you to an endodontist for the procedure.

But you don’t want a root canal. Maybe it’s because you’re worried about the pain, or about the financial cost. Aren’t there any home remedies you can try to resolve the pain instead?

While dental surgery can be intimidating, if your dentist is recommending you get a procedure, it’s because they think it’s your best option for saving your teeth. If you don’t follow through with their advice, it could lead to serious complications down the line, some excruciating, others potentially life-threatening. Let’s look at what can happen if you avoid endodontic treatment that your smile needs for too long.

The Infection Spreads Beyond the Tooth

You might assume the infection won’t spread beyond that single tooth, but that goes against everything we know about how infections work. Without treatment to remove the decay and sanitize the inside of the tooth, those bacteria multiply and look for new territory. They move out of the root and invade the surrounding gum and bone tissue.

This migration causes problems for your entire mouth, not just the initial trouble spot. Your gums become red, tender, and inflamed as your body tries to fight off the invaders. Ignoring the problem allows this bacterial colony to grow stronger and more aggressive. It moves from a localized issue you can solve with a straightforward procedure to a widespread infection that requires aggressive intervention.

A Painful Abscess Develops

One of the most unpleasant side effects of skipping treatment is the formation of a dental abscess. This occurs when a pocket of pus develops at the root of the infected tooth. It feels exactly as pleasant as it sounds. The pressure builds up within this pocket, creating intense, throbbing pain that radiates through your jaw.

You might notice a pimple-like bump on your gums near the painful tooth. If this bump ruptures, a foul-tasting fluid leaks into your mouth. Even if it drains, the infection remains active. An abscess won’t heal on its own. It requires professional draining and treatment to stop the cycle of infection and pressure. Living with an abscess drains your energy and makes daily life miserable.

You Lose the Opportunity to Save the Tooth

Endodontists perform root canals to save natural teeth. When you delay this care, the internal structure of the tooth continues to decay. Eventually, the damage becomes too extensive for any repair work. The tooth loses its structural integrity and cracks or crumbles under the pressure of chewing.

At this stage, your dentist or endodontist has no choice but to extract the tooth. Pulling a tooth creates a gap in your smile that affects how you chew and speak. Keeping your natural teeth generally provides the best function and aesthetic results. By waiting too long, you force the dental team to remove a tooth they could have saved weeks or months earlier.

The Infection Enters Your Bloodstream

Your mouth connects to the rest of your body through a complex network of blood vessels. When an infection rages unchecked in your jaw, it can enter the bloodstream and travel to other organs. This leads to systemic health issues.

Medical professionals link untreated dental infections to heart disease, diabetes complications, and even respiratory infections. In severe cases, the bacteria causes sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection. You don’t want to land in the hospital for a systemic illness that started as a simple toothache.

Your Jawbone Begins to Deteriorate

Infections destroy healthy tissue, and your jawbone sits right in their line of fire. When bacteria settle in the jawbone surrounding the infected tooth, they produce acids and toxins that eat away at the bone density. This process causes bone loss over time.

As the bone weakens, it offers less support for the infected tooth and its neighbors. You might notice other teeth becoming loose or shifting out of place. Severe bone loss also complicates future dental work. If you eventually lose the tooth and want an implant, you might not have enough bone left to support it. This leads to expensive bone grafting procedures that you could have avoided.

The Pain Becomes Unmanageable

Many people avoid the dentist because they fear pain, but avoiding the dentist guarantees pain. Nerve death inside the tooth doesn’t always mean the pain stops. Often, the nerves surrounding the tooth become hypersensitive. This leads to a persistent, throbbing ache that painkillers barely touch.

Sleep becomes a distant memory as the pressure keeps you awake at night. Focus at work or school evaporates because the pain demands all your attention. You start adjusting your life around the pain, skipping social events or lying in bed in a dark room. Endodontic treatment eliminates the source of the pain. It provides relief that medication alone can’t offer.

Financial Costs Skyrocket

A root canal costs money, but it costs significantly less than the alternatives associated with tooth loss. If you lose the tooth because you waited too long, you face the cost of the extraction plus the cost of replacing the tooth. Dental implants, bridges, and dentures all carry higher price tags than a standard root canal therapy.

Plus, you have to factor in the cost of treating complications like abscesses or systemic infections. Emergency exams, strong antibiotics, and potential hospital visits add up quickly. Treating the problem early acts as a financial safeguard. You pay for one procedure rather than a cascade of expensive treatments later on.

You Face Unexpected Emergencies

Dental problems rarely follow a convenient schedule. If you ignore the need for treatment, the situation will eventually force your hand. This usually happens at the worst possible time—right before a vacation, during a big work presentation, or in the middle of the night on a weekend.

Emergency dental visits create stress and panic. You scramble to find someone who can help you immediately. You might end up paying emergency fees or seeing a provider you don’t know. Scheduling the treatment on your own terms gives you control. You pick the day and time that works for your calendar.

Don’t Let Fear Dictate Your Health

If you avoid endodontic treatment, it can lead to a slew of complications, some of which can end in tragedy like hospitalization or losing multiple teeth. Don’t take that risk. If you’re worried about the discomfort, reach out to an experienced endodontist; they can answer any questions or concerns you have about root canals so you can feel more assured about the procedure and your recovery.

At Commonwealth Endodontics, we offer root canal therapy to those who need it. Our team of experienced endodontists will assess your case, answer any fears you may have of treatment, plan a solution, and fix your smile so you can feel better and get back to your routine. Reach out to us anytime to talk about your care.