You head to the dental office for a routine checkup, and your dentist tells you that you need a root canal. If you aren’t in any pain, you may be wondering how this was possible. The truth is that just because you aren’t in pain doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t benefit from root canal treatment. There are all sorts of issues that could warrant root canal treatment. Continue reading to learn what those are.
Persistent Pain
You don’t have to be in pain to need a root canal, but pain is usually the most common sign that something isn’t quite right. If you aren’t able to eat or drink without feeling discomfort, it’s a good idea to go to the dental office to have the issue looked at. They will examine your tooth to determine if they think root canal treatment can help to alleviate your discomfort.
Chipped or Cracked Teeth
When a tooth becomes chipped or cracked from munching down on something hard or an injury, you should have this looked at by a dentist. This type of issue can give bacteria a clear path to travel to the center of your tooth if it is deep enough. This means that you can develop an infection. Your dentist may decide to perform a root canal to prevent infection and relieve your pain.
Sensitivity to Temperature
New or worsening temperature sensitivity could indicate that you have a more serious issue going on. When you have an aching toothache due to hot or cold drinks, this might mean that your tooth is infected. A root canal is required if you are going to have the tooth saved.
Gum Inflammation
If you or your dentist notice that you have a raised bump on your gums, or if your gums are painful and swollen, this could point to an abscessed tooth. If this is the case, your dentist will likely perform a root canal to combat the infection.
Discoloration
Discoloration can happen at any time, and it usually isn’t something you need to worry about. However, if one or more teeth in particular end up darkly discolored, this could be a sign of nerve damage. In this situation, your dentist will determine whether or not a root canal will be able to save your tooth.
Deep Tooth Decay
When a cavity is neglected for too long, it only gets worse. Once it extends all of the way down to the nerve of the tooth, a root canal is the only option to save it. When left untreated for longer, you might end up needing to have the tooth extracted entirely to prevent the spread of infection.
No one looks forward to a root canal. However, they are very common procedure. With modern dental anesthetics, most patients hardly feel anything. If you have any of the things listed above, you should go to your dentist so they can get to the root of the problem.
About the Practice
At Capron Park Dental, we have a team of skilled dentists serving patients in the Attleboro community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about root canal treatment or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (508) 222-5950.
