Do You Need a Root Canal? 6 Telltale Symptoms
Root canal is a dental treatment procedure that cleans away the decay found in the tooth’s pulp and roots.
Your teeth contain an enamel layer on the outer side, and the second layer is known as the Dentin, along with a soft inside core that stretches into the root of the jawbone. The core of the teeth contains dental pulp, which has a lot of things like blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. It’s when the decay penetrates into the soft core, the pulp starts catching infections, and this is where a root canal treatment becomes necessary to eradicate the decay.
How would you know when to have a root canal? Keep reading this blog to learn some signs that are a clear indication that you need a root canal treatment immediately.
What Is a Root Canal?
The root canal procedure cleans out decay and saves the tooth from catching infections. During this treatment, the dentist will:
- Extract decay and bacteria from the tooth, pulp, roots and nerves
- Disinfect the region using different antibiotics
- Fill in the empty roots
- Seal the area to prevent any new decay
The root canal treatment helps in further decaying of the tooth and also leaves the natural tooth in place. However, it can make the tooth more fragile and brittle. This is also why the tooth that has gone through a root canal treatment often is covered with a crown.
Symptoms Of Root Canal
A professional Dentist can only tell for sure if and when will you require a root canal treatment. However, there are certain warning signs that you can look out for. If you start noticing any of the following signs or symptoms, make sure to get in touch with a dentist as soon as possible.
- Continued Pain
If your tooth is experiencing persistent pain, this might be a sign for root canal. The pain can either stay and bother you at all times, or it might disappear and come back again. You might start feeling pain transferring in your face, jaw or other teeth when it becomes severe.
That being said, it must be noted that tooth pain can also be caused by factors other than root canal. These factors are:
- Gum disease
- Cavities left untreated
- Transferred pain from sinus problems
- Damaged filling
- Infections
- Lingering Sensitivity To Cold and Hot Food
If you’re feeling hurt while consuming ice creams or while drinking hot beverages, you may need a root canal, especially if the pain lingers for a long time even after you stop eating. This can be an indication that the blood vessels and nerves in your tooth are infected or damaged.
- Discoloration Of The Tooth
Infection in the pulp of the tooth causes discolouration. When the internal tissues break and trauma starts impacting the tooth, the roots are damaged and they start appearing grayish-black. Tooth discolouration can also happen due to other causes, but it’s always best to get checked by a professional Dentist if you see the colour of your tooth changing.
- Swollen Gums
Swelling of the gums is also a sign for root canal. Swelling is typically caused by acidic waste products made by the dead pulp tissues that swell the outside of the root tip area.
- Chipped or Cracked Tooth
If you have a broken or chipped tooth after participating in a contact sport or after chewing something hard, bacteria will start to settle in and cause inflammation and infections. Also, many times injuries do not cause the tooth to break but the injury can still damage the nerves of the tooth, which leads to pain, inflammation, and sensitivity, which requires root canal treatment.
- Tooth Mobility
Your tooth will start to feel loose if it’s infected. This can be caused by other factors as well, but in most cases, it’s a sign that a root canal is mandatory. The Acidic waste products from nerve death soften the bone near the root of the dying tooth and this causes mobility. Whatever be the issue with your teeth, make sure you get it examined by a professional dental professional at your earliest. You can always get in touch with an emergency dentist in Blackburn and other parts of the country by scheduling an appointment with Emerdency.
