How Do You Know If a Root Canal Is Needed?

How Do You Know If a Root Canal Is Needed?

Feb 01, 2022

A dental procedure to eradicate infections inside your tooth is called a root canal. Dental pulp infections from deep decay repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, chips or cracks on a tooth and untreated decay often result in needing root canals. However, how can you recognize the signs indicating you need the fearsome root canal treatment from the dentist near you?

This article provides information relating to root canals to help you recognize some tell-tale signs and symptoms that indicate a particular tooth in your mouth has dental pulp infections that need eradication if you wish to preserve the tooth. Failure to receive root canal therapy in Rexdale, ON, in timely fashion results in the extraction of the tooth and begins the search for replacement solutions.

What Precisely Are Root Canals?

Your teeth have two layers. The outer layer is the enamel, and the area beneath is the dentin. Beneath these two layers is the soft center of your tooth called the dental pulp. Blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue are all part of the dental pulp. When deep decay reaches the dental pulp, it inflames and infects it or leaves it dead. Root canals are procedures to clean out the rot.

Root canal therapy is a straightforward procedure to eliminate the decay in the tooth to preserve it. When performing root canal therapy, the specialist extracts the bacteria from the dental pulp, root and nerve. After removing the decay, the hollow space is disinfected with antibiotics. The hollow roots are filled with gutta-percha and adhesives, and the dentist seals the area to prevent further deterioration.

This endodontic treatment helps preserve your tooth from extraction and prevents further decay. Unfortunately, it causes fragility in the tooth needing restoration with a dental crown.

If you want to understand some symptoms of needing root canals, you can consider the information in this article for help.

Signs Indicating You Need Root Canals

Persistent Pain

An apparent indicator of root canals is persistent and throbbing pain in a tooth that tends to go away but returns consistently to cause pain in the bone of your tooth or radiate pain to your face, jaw, and your other teeth.

There are many reasons for tooth pain, and some of them are a cavity, gum disease, damaged fillings, impacted and infected teeth. Whatever the reason, it is an excellent idea to visit your dentist to understand whether the tooth pain needs a root canal.

Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Temperatures

Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures even after removing the sensation is a surefire indicator that you need endodontic therapy, especially if the pain lingers for some time.

Discoloration of the Tooth

Dental pulp infections cause your teeth to become discoloured. The infection results in the breakdown of the internal tissue to damage the roots to give your tooth a greyish black appearance. The dental pulp can die when it receives inadequate blood supply indicating the need for a root canal. If your tooth is unresponsive to whitening treatments, it is time for you to see your dentist to understand whether you need root canals.

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Chipped or cracked teeth from accidents or impacts or chewing on hard foods allow the bacteria to set in and lead to infection and inflammation. You might injure a tooth and not notice any chips or cracks. However, the impact may damage the nerves of your tooth to cause it to become inflamed and become painful to require root canals.

Tooth Mobility

An infected tooth tends to feel loose. The loose tooth results from pulpal necrosis to indicate a root canal is necessary. The nerve death softens the bone and the root to cause mobility. If you have more than one tooth feeling loose, the reasons might differ from needing the root canal.

Are Root Canals Painful?

Root canals are fearsome because of the myths surrounding them. Fortunately, present-day dentistry advances and modern anesthesia make root canals a procedure similar to having a tooth filled. You will likely not even feel local anesthesia injected into your mouth. Any discomfort you experience will affect you only after receiving the treatment and not before. Therefore if you share any symptoms described above and think you need this treatment, please do not hesitate to contact your dentist for the treatment.

If you think you need a root canal and want the treatment from an endodontic specialist, we suggest you visit West Humber Dentistry to receive the treatment from an experienced dental professional.
