Do you know why root canal treatments hurt? The fact is, that’s a trick question! Root canal treatment normally doesn’t hurt. Some people assume that root canal treatment will be painful because of all the pain the infected root canal causes before the treatment.
In fact, root canal procedures are generally painless, and they actually eliminate the pain of an infected tooth. Not all tooth pain requires a root canal, but when a root canal is needed, it is best to get it done as soon as possible.
So, when do you visit the dentist for a root canal? Let’s take a look at what The Glenroy Dental Group suggests.
General Signs That You Might Need A Root Canal
What are the signs that you may need a root canal to repair an ailing tooth?
At the centre of your teeth, beneath the protective enamel, is a soft pulp known as “dental pulp.” This pulp extends all the way down to the root of your teeth. This pulp is home to blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue that can easily be infected when exposed to the outer world. Once a tooth becomes badly damaged (untreated cavities, cracks, etc.), bacteria can sneak into the compromised tooth and enter the pulp.
If the damaged tooth is not repaired quickly, these bacteria can cause an infection that kills the pulp, causes bone loss, and potentially causes the loss of the entire tooth.
Tooth pain alone does not mean you need a root canal. But if there is pain, you should watch for several specific signs of what may be an infection serious enough to require treatment.
Specific Signs That You May Need a Root Canal Include:
- A hole, chip, or crack in your tooth
- Significant toothache pain while chewing, or serious tooth pain when putting pressure on the tooth
- Tenderness or swelling of the gum area surrounding the tooth
- Additional swelling around your face and/or neck
- An abscess or lesion formed on the gum area surrounding the tooth, similar to a small pimple or blister
- Extreme sensitivity or pain in your tooth when exposed to either hot or cold food/drink that lasts beyond the removal of the hot or cold food/drink
- Darkening or discolouration of the tooth
Some Signs That Your Dentist Might See That Suggest You May Need a Root Canal:
Sometimes a dentist will find conditions in your teeth that require a root canal:
- Issues identified by X-ray – X-rays show infection as dark spots located at the tip of the roots of the tooth.
- Gum pimples – pimple-like gum lesions are often caused by infected teeth. Gum lesions serve as a drain for pus; so they often have a disgusting taste.
- Darkened teeth – if a tooth has unexplained changes in colour, particularly if it is darker than other healthy teeth, it might indicate that there are issues in its nerve space requiring a root canal.
- Exposed nerves in teeth – losing dental work such as fillings or crowns can lead to exposed nerves. Exposed nerves can lead to intense pain when air and hot or cold substances reach the tooth. Your Glenroy Dental dentist may recommend root canal treatment if you have an exposed tooth nerve.
Pain and Root Canal Treatment
The purpose of root canal treatment is to remove the infection thereby eliminating the pain that brought you discomfort and agony. The procedure involves removal of the infected nerve and pulp tissue of the affected tooth. The procedure is not complicated although a number of steps occur over a few office visits.
- X-ray– if a dentist suspects you may need a root canal, he will first take X-rays or examine existing X-rays to show where the decay is located.
- Anaesthesia– local anesthesia is administered to the affected tooth. Contrary to popular belief, a root canal is no more painful than a filling.
- Pulpectomy– an opening is made and the diseased tooth pulp is removed.
- Filling– the roots that have been opened (to get rid of the diseased pulp) are filled with gutta-percha material and sealed off with cement.
Reliable Root Canal Treatment at The Glenroy Dental Group
If you need a root canal, come to Glenroy Dental and we will clean the invasive bacteria out of the root, fill it with a soothing biocompatible material, and then seal the tooth up again. We top this off with a filling or crown, and your tooth is saved! For more information about how we can help you with your root canal problems, visit Glenroy Dental today!
Our dental clinic is conveniently located on the Pascoe Vale Road shopping strip, Glenroy, with ample parking space, we are located within easy walking distance of the Glenroy train station. Did you know? we serve patients from Hadfield and surrounding suburbs too.
If you have questions about your dental care, contact us on (03) 9306 6511 or book your appointment online.
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