When Is Root Canal Therapy Necessary? Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
Burke Dental
Root canal therapy is mainly misunderstood and associated with pain, but it could save your tooth and remove severe throbbing. Know when a root canal therapy Burke may be needed to arm yourself with timely decisions about your dental health. Here are a few indications that tell you you need root canal therapy and should not be ignored:
1. Chronic Pain
The most common sign that indicates you need a root canal is to experience constant pain in a tooth, such as when it worsens when you are eating, speaking, or touching the area around the tooth. Pain from an acute sensitivity of the tooth subsides once the stimulus is removed, while persistent pain could indicate the infection with microorganisms deep within the pulp, which constitutes the inner tissue of the tooth. If left untreated, this can progress and cause more damage to tissues, so evaluation by a dentist becomes critical.
2. Sensitive to hot and cold
If you have been noticing that hot and cold foods and drinks are leaving you sensitive for a more extended period of time, it can be an indication of pulp damage within your tooth. If the sensitivity is transient, it may pass, but if the sensitivity continues to persist even after the source of heat or cold has been eradicated, then you may have nerve damage or possibly an infection. When the sensitivity lingers on even minutes to hours, it's best to call your dentist because a root canal might save your tooth and take out the pain.
3. Swollen or Sensitive Gums
If the gums surrounding a specific tooth are swollen, red, or sensitive, it may be due to infection. In some cases, a small pimple or bump appears at the gum over the infected tooth, which, at times, may discharge pus, resulting in an awful taste or odor. This allows your body to fight the infection from within, but sometimes a root canal might be necessary to get rid of the problem completely.
4. Tooth Discoloration
Other evidence of pulp damage or decay can be the discoloration of the tooth, which, most of the time, happens to be dark or gray. When the infection reaches the inner tissue of the tooth, it may restrict the flow of blood and might end up causing a darker appearance of the dentition. However, unlike the stains created by coffee or wine, this discoloration typically implies inner damage and can usually be treated using a root canal without later complications.
5. Deep Decay
A deep cavity can create an entry point for the bacteria to reach the pulp and cause infection, even if it is not painful at this stage of decay. Decays that a simple filling cannot be restored require a root canal to clean out the infection in order to prevent further deterioration of the tooth.
6. A Cracked or Chipped Tooth
Accidents happen, and sometimes, so does the cracking or chipping of teeth. A deep enough crack in the tooth allows bacteria to enter the pulp. Infection spreads, possibly to the root and local tissues, if left untreated. This may become worse than worse. Root canal therapy may be just the ticket to eliminating infection and saving the tooth.
These can be treated with root canal therapy, which will help prevent further complications for your teeth as well. If you need bone grafting Burke, consult your dentist immediately. This is the only time you might get an early diagnosis with a treatment that could save your natural tooth and finally get rid of the pain.