How often do you experience pain in your tooth when eating? Is a tooth extra sensitive to hot or cold substances? These signs and more are indicators that you may need a root canal treatment as quickly as possible.
Several factors can cause tooth decay. When you feel consistent pain due to ongoing tooth decay, your tooth needs a root canal treatment. And, ignoring the initial pain can worsen the decay.
What is a Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal is a procedure that removes a damaged and infected tooth from the gum and base of the jaw. A root canal treatment prevents infection from spreading to the other teeth.
A root canal process is mostly painless and takes a short time. The dentist will scoop out the faulty tooth and treat the exposed gum by clearing any bacterial residue. Depending on the damage to the tooth, the space might need a filling which can be added.
A root canal filling or crown will replace the damaged tooth and return your dentition to its usual amount. Furthermore, you should take more caution regarding what and how you eat. Tooth decay comes in many forms, so you want to be prepared.
Anatomy of the Tooth
The outer part of the tooth is the enamel. The white and hard external area protects the inner layers of your tooth. Next, we have the dentin layer, which forms the tooth’s structure.
Beneath the dentin layer is the pulp. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels. Hence, when the pulp is damaged, you feel the pain.
Finally, we have the cementum, which forms the tooth’s base. The cementum holds the tooth firmly in place with the gum. Severe tooth decay can fracture the cementum and loosen the tooth.
During a root canal treatment, the point of damage is located, and the rotten tooth is removed. This treatment also covers enamel reinforcement to prevent cavities. Once the enamel is protected, the rest of the tooth will be safe.
But, how can you know which dental symptoms warrant a root canal treatment? Let’s look at some causes of tooth decay that can lead to a root canal procedure.
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Dental Symptoms that cause the Need for a Root Canal
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in your mouth that eats away at your tooth, affecting your nerve endings. These nerve endings send a pain signal to your brain, which results in toothache.
Let’s look at some dental symptoms to look out for that indicate whether you need a root canal.
Hot and Cold Sensitivity
You may have tooth decay if you experience sharp pain when consuming either a hot drink or ice cream. There’s a possibility that a cavity on your enamel lets the substance touch your pulp.
A root canal treatment can solve this problem by removing the bad tooth. Once the damaged tooth is gone, the nerve endings can heal, and the pain will go away.
Swollen Gums
A swollen gum can signify that you need a root canal treatment as soon as possible. A swollen gum will push against your teeth and cause severe pain.
The gum can get swollen due to the build-up of waste products from a dead or decaying pulp. This waste is highly acidic and will eat away at the base of your tooth.
Furthermore, you may have a boil on your gum. This boil can secrete pus into your mouth, which can cause a terrible mouth odour.
A root canal treatment will cleanse the infected gum area and flush out the bacteria. Once the boil is dealt with, the pain in your jaw will cease.
Discolouration of the Tooth
Another symptom that can determine when to get a root canal treatment is tooth discolouration. Tooth discolouration can occur due to damage to the root of a tooth or an internal infection of the pulp. Either way, the discolouration can make your smile unappealing.
In addition, a tooth pulp can die within a functioning tooth due to low blood supply. Once the pulp dies, it starts to rot within the tooth and can change the visual appearance of the tooth.
We advise you seek a dentist once you notice an unusual discolouration. Early detection can limit the need for a root canal procedure.
A Fractured Tooth
An early root canal symptom due to a chipped tooth is consistent pain. The surface of the cracked tooth becomes exposed and can get infected.
Once an infection sets in, the pulp can swell due to the presence of bacteria. The swelling will lead to more pain, and you’ll need a root canal.
In most cases, the cracked tooth would need to be replaced with a root canal filling. The filling will compensate for the missing tooth and keep your mouth feeling good again.
Loose Tooth
A loose tooth can show an infection already in effect. Death of a nerve in the tooth can cause the tooth to loosen. During nerve death, bacteria consume the decaying pulp and secrete waste that eats at the tooth’s base.
This root canal symptom requires immediate attention to prevent the bacteria from spreading to another tooth. Thankfully, with a root canal procedure, the loose tooth will be removed, and the damaged base will be cleaned and restored.
Is a Root Canal Treatment Painful?
Root canal treatment is a virtually painless procedure. However, you may feel slight discomfort after the process for a few hours. Sometimes, you may need painkillers to numb the pain in your mouth.
However, compared to the excruciating pain you’ll have to endure from the toothache, the root canal treatment is worth it. You’ll stop the infection from spreading and end tooth pain.
Related Article: What Treatment Should I Get If My Tooth Needs a Filling?
In Short
A root canal treatment nips early tooth problems in the bud before they escalate. The procedure isn’t too long, and it’s mostly painless.
Ensure to look out for any of the symptoms mentioned above. Early detection will save your teeth from extreme damage.
Here at Lockwood Clinic, we offer walk-in dental services for patients with tooth pain and some form of tooth decay. Walk into our clinic today or call 416-929-1900 to book an appointment.