When Root Canal Therapy Is Needed
Root canal therapy is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected.
Root canal therapy is performed when the pulp which is composed of nerves and blood vessels in the tooth becomes infected or damaged. During root canal therapy, the pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
Root canal therapy may be needed if a patient experiences prolonged or intense toothache in combination with various other symptoms.
Toothache can sometimes be so intense it causes severe pain. When this occurs, it’s important to see a professional dentist to determine what the cause could be so the problem can be treated appropriately. In an emergency situation there’re many possible reasons for tooth pain, so you should speak with the professional team of dentists right away to determine correct cause. Because spending time trying to simply manage the pain while ignoring the cause can lead to increased tooth damage. If you are unsure whether or not you should contact the dentist for an appointment, you may want to consider the symptoms.
If you are experiencing the below symptoms, you may need root canal therapy:
Severe pain when chewing or applying pressure to teeth. If you are experiencing pain when chewing or applying pressure to your tooth, an infection may be present.
Ongoing intense toothache even when teeth are resting. To be more exact, constant pain or irritation that’s not initiated or stimulated by activity in the mouth.
Tooth sensitivity and pain related to heat or cold. You may already experience sensitivity to cold and hot foods, but if this becomes prolonged, (after the food has been removed), it may be a sign of needing a root canal.
Tooth sensitivity to sweets
Tooth discoloration. A greyish-black appearance of the tooth could be due to an infection of the pulp. If this is the case, root canal treatment is required to treat the underlying infection.
Gum swelling near the affected tooth. If you find that your gums are sore or swollen, this may be an indication that the pulp of the tooth is infected.
An abscess or pimple on the gum area near the tooth. Also experiencing an ache in the bone surrounding a tooth is a common symptom of an abscessed tooth, which would require root canal treatment.
Persistent bad taste in the mouth
One of the reason for many of these symptoms is that a cavity has been allowed, to reach all the way to the pulp of the tooth and an infection has occurred. This can injure the tooth and will may cause severe pain. In some cases, there may be no obvious symptoms that root canal therapy is needed. That’s why it’s important to have a yearly dental check-up including x-rays.
If you are experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, it’s important to contact the professional team of dentists right away. Please feel free to make an appointment at Aleris Salem Dental Center, MA.
