SIGNS YOU NEED A ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE

Root canal treatment is one of the most common procedure done in dental clinic.It is a dental procedure that cleans out the decay in your tooth’s pulp and root.

Our teeth have an enamel layer on the outside, a second layer of dentin, and a inner most layer called as core that extends into the root in the jawbone. The core contains the dental pulp, which consists of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When decay gets into the core, the pulp becomes inflamed or infected and even necrotic (dead). A root canal procedure is needed to clean out the decay.

SO, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED A ROOT CANAL?

During a root canal procedure, dentist will:

• extract bacteria and decay from the tooth pulp, root, and nerve
• disinfects the area with antibiotics
• fill the roots
• seal the tooth to prevent new decay

The root canal treatment leaves the natural tooth in place and thus prevents the  further infection .

 Root canal symptoms 

The only way to know if you need a root canal treatment is by visiting to your dentist. But there are several warning signs ,If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner your tooth can be treated, the better the outcome will likely be.

1. Persistent pain

Persistent tooth pain is one of the common signs that you may need a root canal treatment. You may feel the pain deep in the bone of infected tooth. Or you may feel referred pain in your face, jaw, or in the other teeth.

2. Sensitivity to heat and cold

Does your tooth hurt when you eat warm food or when you drink a cup of coffee? Or your tooth feels sensitive when eating ice cream or drink cold water. it may be an indication that the blood vessels and nerves in your tooth are infected or damaged.

The sensitivity feels like a dull or a sharp pain. Root canal treatment is required if this pain lingers for an extended period of time, even when you stop eating or drinking.

3. Tooth discoloration

Trauma to the tooth or the breakdown of the internal tissue can damage the roots of the tooth and give the tooth a blackish appearance.

 “Tooth pulps become necrotic when there’s an inadequate blood supply, thus indicating a possible need for a root canal treatment.

4. Swollen gums

Swollen gums near the painful or infected tooth can be a sign of an issue that requires a root canal. The swelling may come or subside .The tooth becomes tender when you touch it.Swelling is caused by acidic waste products of dead pulp tissues, which may lead to swelling outside the root tip area. The swelling may ooze pus from the infection in the tooth. This can give an unpleasant taste in your mouth and make your breath smell bad.

5. Pain when you eat or touch the tooth

If your tooth becomes sensitive when you touch it or when you eat, it could indicate severe tooth decay, which needs to be treated with a root canal procedure. This is especially the case if the sensitivity persists over long time and doesn’t go away even when you stop eating.

The ligament around the root tip of an infected tooth may become hypersensitive from the necrotic pulp . The waste products from the necrotic  pulp  irritate the ligaments, causing pain from biting pressure.

6. A chipped or cracked tooth

A cracked tooth in an accident, in a contact sport, or by chewing on something hard, causes bacteria to set in and lead to inflammation and infection. The injury may damage the nerves of the tooth which can become inflamed and causes pain and sensitivity, which may require root canal treatment.

7. Tooth mobility

When your tooth is infected, it may feel looser. If more than one tooth feels loose, the mobility is likely to have a cause other than an issue that may need a root canal.

 Does a root canal hurt? 

A root canal procedure sounds scary, but with today’s technology, it’s typically not a whole lot more different than having a deep filling. There’s little to no pain because your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb your tooth and gums so you’re comfortable during the procedure.

The root canal procedure itself is similar to getting a large filling, but it’ll take longer. Your mouth will be numbed while the dentist cleans out the decay, disinfects the roots, and then fills them in. This will prevent any infected material from spreading to the rest of your mouth.