Signs You Need a Root Canal Therapy

Signs You Need a Root Canal Therapy

Jan 01, 2021

A root canal is a treatment that flashes clean a tooth pulp that has been affected by lousy tooth decay or infection. The pulp contains nerves and many blood vessels, and when it is infected, the pain is immense. During a root canal therapy, the infected tooth pulp is removed and the space sealed.

Many are afraid of this treatment with fear that it will be painful. Interestingly, reports from many patients state that the procedure isn’t a bit more painful than when having a filling placed. You can rest assured that when it’s done by a professional, the pain is minimal, what you experience will be an unavoidable discomfort.

Why Would You Need the Pulp Removed?

The pulp is made of delicate tissue, and when it’s a damaged, it breaks down, and bacteria inside the pulp chamber begin to multiply. As various pulp remnants and bacteria start to die, it risks the tooth to infections or abscesses.

In addition to abscesses, a tooth infection on the root canal has the following effects:

  • Swelling that may spread to other parts of the head and neck
  • Bone loss around the root tip
  • Drainage problems of the tooth root. A hole develops on the root side draining out in the gums, or one through the cheeks onto the skin. This is an ugly scenario, right?

You might wonder what might damage a tooth pulp yet it’s deeply seated inside the enamel. The pulp may get infected in the event of deep tooth decay if you have recurrent dental procedures, large fillings, a large crack on the tooth, or if you sustain trauma on the mouth area.

7- Signs You Need a Root Canal Treatment

  • Persistent Pain

Persistent pain in the first indicator that there is something wrong with your tooth. If you have problems with eating, drinking and chewing, such that it’s always painful when you use your teeth, something is truly wrong. It would help if you saw a dentist soonest possible.

Your dentist examines the aching tooth for signs of damage on the blood vessels or nerves. He/she can issue antibiotics or perform the procedure.

  • Chipped/Cracked teeth

Teeth can get chipped if you chew on hard foods, get involved in high contact sports, or suffer from a previous dental procedure.

When you get a tooth cracked, the nerves beneath become exposed and can cause infection t the pulp. An untreated infection can be severe and will require a procedure to remove it.

  • Sensitive teeth

This another obvious sign that your tooth pulp needs treatment. When your teeth get sensitive when you consume hot or cold foods and drinks, it means there is an infection. There is a lot of pain when you consume extreme temperature foods using infected teeth. If the damage on the nerves and blood vessels are to blame, then your dentist will recommend this procedure.

  • Swelling in the Gum Area

Swelling gums indicate a problem under the gumline. If there is pain and bump-like swellings on your gum, your dentist will examine them for signs of inflammation. If inflamed gums don’t improve with anti-inflammatory drugs, then a root procedure is recommended to alleviate the symptoms.

  • Dark Teeth Discoloration

A discolored tooth can result from poor hygiene or exposure to food and beverages that stain the tooth enamel. It can also be due to nerve damage under the tooth enamel.

When the nerves and blood vessels get damaged, a procedure to reach them and remove the damaged root is the best treatment for it.

  • Tooth Mobility

An infected tooth always feels looser. A loose tooth can be caused by other factors like trauma, and not nerve death (pulpal necrosis), but it can a good sign your dental crown needs a canal treatment.

Acidic wastes released by nerve death may lose the tissues around the tooth root, making the tooth rather loose.

  • Deep Decay

After dental decay deeply sets in the base of your mouth, no amount of brushing or flossing can reverse its effects. A cavity that has been neglected for an extended period quickly spreads to the nerve area and eventually into the tooth root. Here, only a root canal therapy can save the tooth, after which a dental crown is issued.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive dental care in Tampa, and we are accepting patients across the neighborhood including:

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