Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that helps in relieving pain caused by an infected or abscessed tooth. During the procedure, the infected pulp is eliminated by the surgeon and the tooth is cleaned and disinfected. The canals are then filled with a bio-compatible filling material to seal the canals.
When Root Canal Treatment is Needed?
Root canal treatment becomes important when oral bacteria invade the pulp inside your tooth. This mostly happens when a cavity is left untreated for a long time or if your tooth becomes cracked or damaged due to trauma.
In some cases, you might not be aware of having an infected tooth. Although, you might notice particular signs and symptoms that indicate that you need a root canal. These include:
- Tooth sensitivity: If your tooth hurts while eating or drinking anything of extreme temperature like too hot or too cold, it could mean that you require a root canal procedure. This is particularly true when the pain lingers for more than a few seconds.
- Swollen jaw: In some cases, pus (abscess) does not drain from the site, resulting in swelling of your jaw.
- A chipped or cracked tooth: If you have experienced a chip or crack in a tooth due to an accident or while biting down something hard, bacteria can reach all the way into the tooth pulp.
- Swollen gums: When a tooth gets infected due to several reasons, pus can collect in the area which leads to puffy, swollen, or tender gums.
- Loose tooth: An infected tooth may feel wobbly because the pus from the infected pulp can soften the bone supporting the tooth.
- Tooth pain that does not heal: Several dental problems can cause pain in the tooth. In case you are experiencing pain deep in your tooth, you may need a root canal procedure. This discomfort may also radiate to your jaw, face, or other teeth.
- Abscess on the gums: You may sometimes notice a boil has developed on the gums. Due to the infected tooth, pus may drain from the pimple causing an unpleasant taste, smell, and pain.
- Discoloration of a tooth: When a tooth pulp becomes infected, it can make your tooth look darker in color. This can occur due to poor blood supply to the tooth, making it non-vital.
- Pain when external pressure is applied: If you experience pain while eating or touching your tooth, it could mean the nerves in the pulp or the periodontal ligaments are damaged.
All the above-mentioned symptoms can lead to the requirement for root canal therapy. Depending on the severity of the infection in your tooth, the therapy may require one or two sittings. On average, a root canal takes around 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
Wrapping it up
Experiencing pain or swelling in the tooth or jaw can be scary. Fortunately, the root canal procedure can help in removing the infection at its source so you can feel better. If you feel that you have an infected or abscessed tooth, call your dental healthcare provider right away. Prompt treatment can prevent the dental infection from spreading and relieve your pain so you can get back to normal life. For more information on root canal treatment near you, visit The Dental Roots website.