When Do We Require Root Canal Treatment?

If you allow bacteria to infect the dental pulp of your tooth, you become a candidate for root canals to eradicate the infection from within your tooth. The treatment becomes inevitable to relieve pain caused by the infected or abscessed tooth.

If you develop a dental abscess near the roots of your tooth, causing severe pain and sensitivity to temperatures, you might even need an emergency root canal from the dentist near you to remove the infected or inflamed dental pulp of the tooth. The dentist also cleans and disinfects the root canals before placing a filling to seal the space.

When Do Root Canals Become Necessary?

Root canal therapy becomes inevitable when you allow oral bacteria to penetrate the inside of your tooth to reach your dental pulp. The dental pulp is home to blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. The bacteria penetrating your tooth might result from an untreated cavity or damaged or cracked teeth because of injuries.

If you decide not to have root canals as recommended by the dentist, the only alternative to find relief from the pain you experience is to have the tooth extracted and look for replacement solutions. Root canal treatments are more affordable than artificial teeth and help preserve the natural tooth for life. Therefore if you want to prevent unnecessary expenditure, you will accept your dentist’s suggestion to have this endodontic therapy without hesitation.

Symptoms Indicating You Need Endodontic Therapy

Realizing that you have an infected tooth is challenging unless examined by a dentist. However, you might notice specific symptoms indicating that you need root canals without further delay. The symptoms are:

• Persistent Tooth Pain: Tooth pain can result from various dental problems. Unfortunately, if you have throbbing pain deep in your tooth, you might need a root canal to eliminate the discomfort.
• Sensitivity to Temperatures: If you experience pain when drinking hot beverages or having ice cream, it might indicate the need for root canal treatment. In such cases, the pain lingers after removing the sensation.
• Swollen Gums: When your tooth is infected, pus can accumulate in the area, resulting in puffy and swollen gums.
• Dental Abscesses: you might develop pimples on the gums and become a storage point for pus draining from the infected tooth to cause an unpleasant taste or odour.

Besides the above, you might notice tooth discoloration, loosening of the tooth and pain when applying pressure.

How to Prepare for Endodontic Therapy

Root canal treatment in Courtice & Oshawa, ON, strives to provide answers to any questions you have about this procedure. However, you can follow the tips mentioned below when preparing for this specialized treatment to preserve your natural tooth.

• You receive antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications before your treatment. Ensure that you take the medicines as recommended by the dental healthcare provider.
• You must avoid smoking for several days before your process or quit the habit if possible.
• Have a healthy meal before reporting for your appointment for the procedure. The anesthesia given during the process will numb your mouth for a few hours, making it challenging for you to have food after root canals.

What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

When you reach your dentist’s office for your appointment, the dental healthcare provider will x-ray the affected tooth to determine the extent of the damage to ensure root canal treatment is optimal for your situation.

You receive local anesthesia to numb the infected tooth and the surrounding gums. You can request sedation if you have severe dental anxiety. After providing anesthesia, the dentist isolates the infected tooth by placing a small rubber dam over the area.

When starting the process, the dentist makes a tiny access hole in the crown of the tooth to expose the dental pulp. Flexible instruments help the dentist remove the infected pulp besides the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. After removing the dental pulp, the root canals and pulp chamber are cleaned, disinfected, and shaped for a filling. The filling material is temporary and helps seal the tooth to prevent bacteria from making an entry.

The dentists recommend that you get the tooth restored with a dental crown after recovering from the process. Dental crowns are essential because the treatment renders your tooth fragile, making it prone to fractures.

What to Expect after Getting Root Canals?

Please do not expect discomfort when getting root canals because the anesthesia ensures you don’t feel anything. However, you can expect discomfort after the procedure and sensitivity remaining with you for a few days. The symptoms are expected and manageable using over-the-counter pain relievers as the side effects lessen within a couple of weeks.

Whenever you notice the symptoms of needing a root canal, you must visit your dentist to evaluate the tooth and have it treated at the earliest. Delaying the treatment will result in losing the tooth.

Brightway Dental performs root canal treatments frequently in Courtice and Oshawa with successful outcomes. If you experience the symptoms of root canals, please schedule an appointment with this practice at the earliest to receive this simple and pain-relieving treatment.