How Do You Know If You Need A Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure performed to extract infected tooth material and relieve tooth pain. Root canals contain blood vessels and nerves. When these things become infected, you would need a root canal procedure to alleviate toothache. But how do you know if you need a root canal? Different signs lead to an infected tooth. And knowing the symptoms will help to see if you need a root canal treatment. If you suspect that your tooth is infected, the Macquarie Dental clinic performs root canals regularly.

Causes of Root Canal Pain

You might experience pain in your tooth root canal due to the following reasons:

• Tooth decay. When the infected tooth is left neglected, there is a possibility that the bacteria will penetrate the inner layers of the teeth. This causes the root canal to be in severe pain as the blood vessels become highly sensitive to heat and cold.
• Teeth damage. Small cracks and chips in the teeth can cause bacterial infection and root canal pain.
• Other conditions. There are many causes of tooth infection, such as trauma to the tooth, large fillings, improper dental procedures, teeth cracks, and tooth pulp infection. Because of these reasons, your dentist might recommend root canal treatment immediately.

Signs that You Need a Root Canal Treatment

Tooth pain could be due to several reasons. So how do you know if you need a root canal treatment or just a basic dental procedure? Technically, your dentist will be the one to determine if you are a candidate for root canals. He will examine your tooth and make a final diagnosis, depending on your symptoms. If you are experiencing the following signs, then you will most likely get a root canal treatment:

Extreme Pain

Dealing with tooth pain is probably one of the hardest things to do. It affects our performance and our everyday life. Plus, it causes us to feel other pains in our bodies. So when the pain becomes too severe that you can no longer function well, it’s probably time for a root canal treatment. Another indicator is when the pain gets intense when you are in specific positions, such as lying down or bending over.

Gum Bumps

Our gums are naturally smooth on the surface. Therefore, if you try to swipe your tongue around your gums, you must not feel any unfamiliar bumps in any areas. Gum bumps could be a sign that a tooth is infected and in need of treatment. Tooth pain accompanied by bumps is very common and should be examined by a dentist right away.

Hot and Cold Sensitivity

In all honesty, sensitivity to hot and cold could occur to anyone. It probably happened to us at least once in our lives. You see, you might need a root canal treatment because the blood vessels in your tooth are specifically designed to sense hot and cold stimuli. Experiencing sensitivity could indicate that the blood vessels are compromised or exposed, for that matter.

Swelling Gums

Unfortunately, swollen gums are also one of the most obvious reasons you need a root canal treatment. Sometimes, this is accompanied by tooth pain, and the gums themselves will feel tender.

Dark Gums

Another infection symptom to watch out for is when the gums are starting to get a darker shade. This only means that the gums are severely infected, and the tooth above it is rapidly dying.

Cracked Tooth

Leaving your cracked tooth unchecked invites bacterial infection. Once the bacteria find a way to penetrate the tooth’s inner layers, the pain will eventually follow, and inflammation will begin. So whether you feel tooth pain or not, it’s still advisable to have your cracked tooth checked.

Tooth Abscess

The dentist can only diagnose a tooth abscess through a dental X-ray. It will come out as a dark spot on the teeth. A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that is the result of an infection. The Kellyville Family Dental team warns that abscess is something that requires urgent cae.

The Root Canal Procedure

Root canal treatment is an invasive dental procedure that will involve the core parts of your tooth. Generally, the treatment will conclude by drilling to the tooth to get access to the infected material. After the removal, your dentist will seal the tooth again to prevent pain from recurring.

Here are the things to expect during a root canal procedure:

• Tooth examination. First and foremost, the dentist will ask for a final dental x-ray to confirm the extent of the infection.
• Application of anesthetics. For your comfort, you will be given a numbing gel in the treatment area. This will reduce the pain caused by the procedure. You will be conscious during the whole course. 
• Drilling. Once the numbing gel kicks in, the infected tooth will be drilled open. This will allow the dentist to have access to the infected tooth material. After the drilling, the material will be removed gently.
• Closing. Once all the infected material is removed, the tooth will be sealed. A dental filling will be placed on the drilled hole to ensure that no open areas will be left out.

After the Treatment

The root canal treatment often leaves patients with tooth sensitivity and pain. But do not panic, as these effects will slowly fade away. To prevent complications after your root canal treatment, be sure to follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions. Additionally, continue with your oral care routine and switch from hard-bristled toothbrushes to soft ones. Go to this website for extra info.

Moreover, you will be asked to eat soft foods for some time, so be sure to have your one-week meal prepared ahead of time.

References:

When is a Root Canal Really Necessary? 8 Signs You Need a Root Canal (https://www.completehealthdentistryofnepa.com/signs-you-need-a-root-canal)

What is a Root Canal? – Pain, Procedure, & Cost (https://crest.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/adults/what-is-a-root-canal-pain-procedure-cost)