A root canal treatment is a dental procedure to clean out the dental decay in the tooth’s root and pulp and seal it. It is needed when the pulp or the soft tissue in your root canal gets infected, decayed, inflamed, or damaged cannot be healed again naturally. Infected or decayed root or pulp can result in severe pain and discomfort that require immediate root canal treatment from a professional dentist.
During a root canal treatment, your dentist extracts bacteria and infected pulp and nerve from your tooth root and cleans it to disinfect the treated area. Then he/she fill the empty root with a biocompatible material to seal the infected area to prevent any further decay. It is a common but complex procedure in dentistry and requires professional knowledge and skills for proper treatment.
There are many reasons that can result in infected pulp or root and you can identify it by some common signs and symptoms. Early signs are very difficult to identify until the problem becomes more critical. That is why you should opt for regular dental checkups with your dentist in order to maintain a healthy oral life. But still, there are some signs and symptoms that indicate that you may need root canal treatment and should visit your dentist as soon as possible.
Persistent pain
Persistent pain deep in the jawbone of your tooth that irritates and bothers you from time to time is a common sign that indicates that something is wrong in the tooth root. You should immediately visit a professional dentist to see if your tooth pulp or nerves have become infected or inflamed.
Pain and sensitivity while eating and drinking
If you feel any pain, discomfort, or sensitivity while eating or drinking warm or cold food items or beverages, you should visit your dentist for a check-up. Tooth sensitivity can be a symptom that you may have an infected or inflamed tooth root that requires root canal treatment.
Chipped or cracked tooth
Your teeth can be chipped or cracked in an accident, during a sport, or while chewing hard food that can expose your tooth pulp or nerves to bacterial infections. That can lead to further inflammation or decay and cause pain or discomfort, which may require root canal therapy.
Swollen gums
If you notice swollen gums beneath your tooth surface that are causing pain and discomfort, visit your dentist for an examination. It can be caused by inflamed tooth root, which may require root canal treatment.
Tooth discoloration
An infection in your tooth pulp or root can discolor your tooth from their natural appearance to a greyish-black appearance. It can be a signal that you may need a root canal and should visit your dentist for a check-up.
When you notice any of the above signs or symptoms, you should immediately schedule an appointment with a professional dentist. These signs indicate that you may need a root canal treatment for removing the infected tissue or nerves from your tooth rot and seal it to prevent further infection. Give us a call for more information on root canal or any other dental procedure and set up an appointment for any treatment.