The enamel or the outer layer of your tooth is tough, but it can still get corroded by bacteria in plaque that produces acidic wastes. These wastes can reach the pulp chamber of the tooth containing soft tissue and blood vessels. And this can be very painful when infected and left untreated.
This is where the need for root canal therapy comes in. Performed by either a general dentist or endodontist, root canal therapy is an example of endodontic treatment. The aim is to treat infection at the center or pulp of the tooth.
The term “root canal” has been met with anxiety because it has earned a reputation for being a painful procedure. But thanks to modern technology, patients needing the procedure have felt very little to no pain at all.
Most Common Root Canal Symptoms
Below are some warning signs that will guide you on whether or not you might need root canal therapy. Please schedule a checkup with your dentist as soon as possible for a more favorable outcome should you need one.
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Severe Pain In Your Tooth
Severe and frequent tooth pain is the tell-tale sign that you need a root canal treatment. Some may feel a sharp pain when the tooth is under pressure. You may feel like this pain has spread from the tooth into the surrounding bone. This means that the decay has reached the pulp of your tooth. This pain may come and go or it may bother you all the time.
You do not have to go through pain, and please note root canal therapy can be considered emergency dentistry.
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Sensitivity To Heat or Cold
Does your tooth hurt when you bite a warm portion of food or sip a cold drink? Tooth sensitivity can be a bit tricky. If your tooth gets sensitive to hot or cold food and beverages even when you have already finished your meal or drink, you might want to consider having a root canal treatment. This sensitivity is caused by the infection of the tooth pulp, which can overreact to extreme temperatures with prolonged effect.
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Bumps On The Gums
There are times that the infection inside the pulp spills into the gums, where pimples may develop. Once popped, the pimple may discharge pus that can give you a horrible taste and bad breath.
Bumps, pimples, or boils on your gums are already at an advanced stage of infection. Seeing them should alarm you to schedule an appointment with your dentist. A root canal is an effective dental procedure to stop the infection from spreading.
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Red, Tender, Or Swollen Gums
Red, tender, or swollen gums may just be a sign that you brush and floss too hard. However, it will be an entirely different issue if your root canal is the reason behind your inflamed gums. The inflammation or swelling is due to the dead pulp tissues. The swollen gums will be painful while touching it or eating.
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Discoloration of The Gums
Discoloration is a sign that the soft tissue may have experienced trauma or ongoing infection. You might not notice the normal shade of your gums. But should you see one or a few spots darker than the rest of your gums, infection near the tooth’s root could be the reason behind it. Restricted blood flow or plaque that has entered the pulp layer of a tooth can also cause discoloration. -
Discoloration Of The Tooth
While the pulp is inside your tooth, it can still cause tooth discoloration once it is infected. Aside from infection, the pulp can also die due to insufficient blood supply. These can cause damage to the roots and give the tooth a grayish-brown shade. While a mere tooth stain can also cause discoloration, you should still see a professional once a tooth is already changing color.
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Pain When Touching The Tooth or While Eating
A root canal may be needed if you feel pain when touching the tooth or while eating. The infected tooth’s ligament has already become hypersensitive due to the weak state of the pulp. This pain does not go away even if there is no object in contact with your tooth.
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A Chipped Or Cracked Tooth
Bacteria that can cause infection can get into a tooth through a chip or crack. Most of the time, we get them from accidents or biting something hard. There are also times that a tooth gets cracked or chipped because of severe decay, or worse, it already becomes a dead tooth. Regardless of the cause, root canal therapy is the procedure that can save the dental structure or surrounding tissues of a dead or dying tooth.
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Tooth Mobility
A loose and painful tooth is also a sign that you need a root canal. The infection has already softened or caused damage to the bone, which has loosened the hold of your teeth.
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Swelling On Your Head And Neck
The swelling can sometimes reach your head and neck in extreme cases. You may feel a stabbing pain in the neck near the infected tooth. This may suggest that the abscess has also infected your lymph nodes.
Save Your Tooth Now
There could be a number of reasons why you feel one or a few symptoms mentioned earlier. You may feel that you need root canal therapy, but the only way to be certain of this is by visiting your dentist.
Book a schedule now and improve your daily life by addressing the problem of a root canal here at Madison Dentistry. You will be evaluated by our expert professionals who embody the family-oriented style of dentistry that is suitable for all ages. We will be cautious as we explore the appropriate options before recommending root canal therapy.
A lot of people have trusted us for their root canal procedure, which we have designed to prolong the life of your natural tooth while enhancing your natural smile.
