What happens if the rotten tooth root is not removed for a long time?

There are many reasons for tooth decay. Some people have severe tooth decay, with only rotten tooth roots or decayed teeth left. Some have no symptoms, some often cause pain, and many people are too lazy to take care of them. In fact, if rotten tooth roots are not removed for a long time, it will pose a hidden danger to oral health. We must be aware of this harm and respond in a timely manner. So, what will happen if rotten tooth roots are not removed for a long time? Let’s take a look below.

Residual roots

The residual tooth roots we often refer to are the remaining tooth roots after the crown is destroyed. This part of the tooth root cannot play a role in daily chewing activities because it has lost its normal biting function. In the front tooth area, it will affect the appearance and sometimes even cause pain and inflammation, affecting oral health and quality of life.

How bad must a tooth root be before it must be extracted?

Generally speaking, the blackening or root rot that we see with the naked eye is not enough to determine whether the tooth will stay or go. Whether the tooth root needs to be extracted mainly depends on its length, the degree of absorption of the surrounding periodontal tissue and alveolar bone, etc. This judgment process must first be completed by taking a panoramic dental X-ray.

Who is not suitable for tooth extraction?

1. Blood diseases

It can cause decreased blood coagulation and continuous bleeding after surgery. Patients with diseases such as hemophilia, leukemia, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura and scurvy should avoid tooth extraction.

2. Kidney disease

People with severe renal impairment should not have their teeth extracted to avoid renal failure. Generally, for those with mild kidney disease, antibiotics should be injected before tooth extraction to prevent temporary bacteremia caused by tooth extraction, which may trigger an acute attack of kidney disease.

3. Liver disease

Tooth extraction should be postponed for patients with acute hepatitis or severe liver damage, because this type of liver disease can cause postoperative bleeding due to lack of prothrombin and fibrin, or the liver's inability to use vitamin K to synthesize related coagulation factors. Tooth extraction must be postponed until the disease improves. For patients with chronic hepatitis, tooth extraction can be performed if there is no obvious damage to liver function, but the prothrombin time should be measured before the operation. To prevent postoperative bleeding, hemostatic drugs such as vitamin K and hemostatics should be used after tooth extraction.

4. Diabetes

Diabetic patients are more susceptible to infection after surgery due to their reduced resistance. Patients with serious conditions should postpone tooth extraction. For those who must have a tooth extracted, a physician should be consulted to control blood sugar levels so that they are not too high before the tooth is extracted (fasting blood sugar in the morning should not exceed 6.8 mmol/L, or 160 mg%). Antibiotics should be used before and after tooth extraction surgery to prevent complications.

5. Organic or functional mental and neurological diseases

Patients with this disease should consider the possibility of disease attacks during and after surgery, so they should have their teeth extracted after consultation and treatment with a neurologist, and they should take sedatives before the operation.

6. Hyperthyroidism

Such patients may suffer a sudden worsening of thyroid poisoning due to infection, anxiety and various surgeries, which is called "thyroid crisis". In severe cases, it can quickly lead to failure or even death, so it is not advisable to extract teeth rashly. If tooth extraction is necessary, a detailed examination should be conducted. The basal metabolic rate should be below 20% and the pulse should be below 100 beats per minute. "Epinephrine" cannot be added to anesthetics. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also needed after surgery.

7. Other diseases

Acute infectious diseases, pernicious anemia, severe tuberculosis, malnutrition, and excessive fatigue can reduce the body's resistance, delay wound healing, and are prone to infection, so tooth extraction should be postponed.