The term “root canal” conjures up images of painful dental procedures for many people. But in reality, it is a common, painless treatment that is frequently misinterpreted. Your dentist at Advanced Dental Care of Riverdale will typically advise root canal albuquerque nm—the removal of the pulpy substance deep inside your tooth to salvage a tooth that is in danger of falling out.
Here are signs you may need root canal treatment.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
Does drinking hot coffee or eating warm food make your tooth hurt? Or does a glass of ice-cold water or eating ice cream may also make your tooth feel sensitive?
The sensitivity could feel like a mild ache or a sharp pain. If this pain persists even after you stop eating or drinking for a prolonged period, you might require a root canal.
If your teeth hurt when you eat or drink something hot or cold, it could mean that the blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth are infected or damaged.
- Spontaneous pain
The key word, in this case, is “spontaneous”: you have a tooth that suddenly starts to hurt you severely without any other obvious reason.
This is a serious warning, as root canals are necessary when a tooth has deteriorated so badly that the exposed nerve inside the afflicted tooth is visible. A relatively slight exposure can cause serious harm. The pain may vary in intensity and feel different as you change positions, such as sitting or leaning over. Call your doctor or endodontist immediately if you have sudden, severe tooth pain.
- A broken or chipped tooth
If you have a cracked or chipped tooth caused by an accident, a contact sport, or biting on something hard, bacteria may set in, resulting in swelling and infection.
The tooth’s nerves may still be damaged even if you hurt it, but it does not crack or chip. Inflamed nerves can cause pain and discomfort and may necessitate root canal therapy.
- Pain when eating or touching the teeth
A root canal may be necessary to treat serious tooth decay or nerve damage if a tooth is painful to touch or when eating food. This is particularly the case if the sensitivity does not go away after you stop eating and lasts for a long period.
The dying pulp may cause the tissue around the root tip of an infected tooth to become hypersensitive. The waste from the decaying pulp may affect the ligament, resulting in pressure-related discomfort.
- “Pimples” on your gums
Although your gums are similar to the flesh, it is abnormal to have a pimple there. An extremely localized sort of swelling that resembles a pus-filled “boil” on your gum may be an indication of a tooth infection.
Sometimes these pimples will get smaller and seem to go away on their own, but don’t allow that to make you feel secure. The growth may often grow again since the infection has not yet been treated. Never try to drain such a growth. Inform your dentist or endodontist instead, and let them evaluate the situation.
- A darkened tooth
If one of your teeth may turn darker in color than the others, this may be an infection or damage to the tooth’s nerve. The damaged tooth usually develops a gray cast. If you have this issue, a dentist may recommend a root canal.
Call Advanced Dental Care of Riverdale to book your appointment for root canal treatment.
