What Are the Signs That Root Canal Treatment Is Needed?
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal procedure helps restore and save a tooth with infection or decay.
During your procedure, a dentist will:
- Remove decay and bacteria from the tooth pulp, nerve, and root
- Use antibiotics to disinfect the area
- Fill the empty roots
- Seal the area to avoid new decay
A general dentist or an endodontist can execute a root canal procedure.
Do you need a root canal near you? Call us at Smile City to book an appointment.
Root Canal Symptoms
The only way to ensure that you require a root canal is by visiting our dentist in St Cloud, MN. But there are various signs to watch out for, and some of them may include:
Persistent pain
Persistent tooth pain is a common sign that may indicate you need a root canal. The pain in the tooth may be consistent, or it may go away from time to time but always comes back.
An individual may feel the pain deep in the tooth’s bone, the jaw, the face, or other teeth.
It’s good to visit your dentist if you are experiencing tooth pain, especially if it’s persistent. Diagnosing and treating tooth pain early usually results in a better outcome.
Sensitivity to cold and heat
Does your tooth feel sensitive when drinking a cold glass of water or eating ice cream? Or perhaps your tooth hurts when eating warm food or drinking a cup of coffee.
You may experience sensitivity in sharp pain or a dull ache. If the pain stays for a long period even after you stop drinking or eating, you may require a root canal.
A tooth that hurts when you take something hot or cold may indicate that the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels are damaged or have an infection.
Tooth discoloration
When the tooth’s pulp has an infection, it can result in tooth discoloration.
When a tooth experiences trauma or its internal tissue breaks down, it can damage the tooth and make it appear grayish-black.
Inadequate blood supply can make the tooth pulp die, creating the need for a root canal in St Cloud, MN.
Swollen gums
Swollen gums next to a painful tooth indicate that you need a root canal. The swelling might come and go. You may feel tenderness upon touch, or it may be painless to the touch.
Dead pulp tissues produce acidic waste products, which can lead to swelling.
A little pimple may also appear on the gum. It is known as a parulis, gum boil, or abscess.
The abscess may discharge pus from the tooth infection. This can cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth and make one’s breath smell bad.
Pain after touching the tooth or eating
If your tooth becomes sensitive when you eat or touch it, it could be a sign of severe nerve damage or tooth decay which may require root canal treatment. Unfortunately, it’s common in cases where sensitivity is persistent and doesn’t go away.
A cracked or chipped tooth
If tooth chips or cracks in an accident, chewing on something hard, or in a contact sport, bacteria can get in and result in infection and inflammation.
Even if a tooth doesn’t crack or chip after an injury, the tooth’s nerve can get damaged. The nerve can get an inflammation that can cause sensitivity and pain, making the need for a root canal procedure arise.
Tooth mobility
An infected tooth may feel looser.
A tooth infection can result from other factors besides the death of a nerve.
A dead nerve releases acidic waste products that can soften the bone surrounding the root of a dying tooth leading to mobility.
Swelling on the neck and head
Swelling on the neck close to a tooth with sharp pain may indicate an abscess has infected the lymph nodes. It’s a good idea to seek a root canal before this stage.
Discoloration in the gums
Gum discoloration can be a result of infection at the teeth’s roots. You are probably aware of how your normal shade of gums appears, so if there’s a darker part than the rest, it may be due to an infection close to the tooth’s root.