If you’ve heard scary stories about how painful a root canal can be, you should know that modern root canal procedures are quick, not painful, and they’re often the best way to save your tooth. If your dentist recommends a root canal, don’t be afraid.
At Oasis Dental Team, our expert dentists recommend root canals when you have a tooth that’s badly damaged or if you have an infection deep in your tooth’s interior or at its root. Sometimes our patients are surprised that they need a root canal. Here, we describe some of the signs that indicate you may need a root canal.
Inside your teeth is a soft tissue called pulp. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, and it can become infected or inflamed due to decay, trauma, or cracks in the outer layers of your tooth.
When you undergo a root canal, our team starts by giving you an anesthetic so you’re comfortable during the procedure. Next, the dentist creates a small hole in your tooth to access the area around the root of your tooth — called the root canal.
Using special tools, the dentist then removes the damaged pulp and thoroughly cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth crown and root canal. Once all of the infection and damaged tissue are gone, your dentist fills the cavity with gutta-percha, a material designed to seal off the space so it's no longer susceptible to infection.
The last step is sealing the access point with a filling, or you may need a crown to further protect your tooth.
If you’re having any kind of dental symptoms, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment to find out what’s going on. The following issues are often associated with the need for a root canal.
If you take a sip of a hot beverage and feel pain or it hurts when you eat something cold like ice cream, it could be a sign that you need a root canal. Sensitivity to hot and cold that occurs suddenly, feels intense, or lasts longer than you expect could point to a serious problem like an infected tooth.
If your gums are tender, red, or bleeding, you may have gum disease, or it could be severe tooth decay. A root canal could help, depending on the cause of the inflammation.
Your teeth may be stained, but that can usually be corrected with a professional cleaning. If your tooth remains discolored after a cleaning, it could be because you have a problem inside your tooth.
Does it hurt when you bite down, even if you’re eating something soft? If light to moderate pressure causes pain, you likely have a problem.
A root canal doesn’t cause pain, it stops pain. Having a root canal can be the difference between saving your natural tooth and needing an extraction if the infection becomes so severe that it permanently damages your tooth.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms above, schedule an appointment to visit Oasis Dental Team in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Our experienced, caring providers are ready to help.
