What to Expect with a Root Canal Procedure
You know that you need to see your dentist any time you have a tooth that doesn’t feel quite right, but there are certain symptoms that raise a more serious red flag. Deep tooth pain, sensitivity to heat and cold, swollen gums or jaw, or a loose or discolored tooth might mean that the innermost part of your tooth is infected and it’s time to see a dentist to see if a root canal is needed.
Learn more about how to recognize root canal symptoms from the start of your tooth pain.
What Causes a Root Canal?
Each of your teeth is comprised of several layers, the innermost of which is known as the pulp. And while all the layers are important to your overall oral health, the pulp is actually the only living part of the tooth. Filled with nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues, the pulp supplies the tooth with nutrients to keep it healthy and functioning.
If the protective outer layers of the tooth are breached by a cavity, a crack, or some other type of trauma, the exposed pulp can become infected by bacteria. That infected pulp will become increasingly inflamed, swollen and tender, and – encased inside the hard outer layers of the tooth, with nowhere to expand – increasingly painful.
Signs You Need a Root Canal
If you are having one or more of the following symptoms, you should be seen immediately by a root canal specialist to address your pain and treatment options:
Frequent tooth pain: persistent pain, especially pain that feels centered deep within the tooth. The discomfort may also extend to your jaw, face, or other teeth.
Pressure pain: pain when you chew or touch your tooth could mean the nerves around the pulp are damaged.
Sensitivity to heat and cold: a sharp pain when you drink a hot drink or eat a cold food, especially if the pain lingers for more than a few seconds.
Swollen, tender gums: pus collecting around the infection can cause gum irritation or gum disease.
A pimple or boil: these painful bumps on the gum near the infected tooth might drain pus, causing an unpleasant taste or smell.
Swollen jaw: If the pus doesn’t find a way to drain from the infected pulp, your jaw in the surrounding area might experience swelling.
Tooth discoloration: disrupted blood supply to the pulp can cause the infected tooth to appear darker.
A visibly damaged tooth: accidentally chipping or cracking a tooth can give bacteria a way to reach the pulp.
A loose tooth: pus from the infected pulp can soften the bone that supports the tooth, making the tooth feel loose.
The purpose of a root canal is to provide almost immediate relief to an often painful situation. Although the term has gained a bit of a bad rap, with “I’d rather have a root canal!” as a common retort to any number of unpleasant situations, it’s a fairly straightforward treatment that quickly and effectively removes the infection and eases the pain. This procedure has a routine recovery time and minimal side effects.
Root Canal Procedure & Treatment
The purpose of a root canal is to remove the infected pulp, clean and sterilize the inside of the tooth, pack the now-empty tooth with a dental filling, and seal the tooth to recreate the hard, protective outer coating. Here’s what you can expect if you and your dentist decide that a root canal treatment is the best plan for you:
Dental x-ray: your dentist will take an x-ray to determine the extent of the infection and damage, and to ensure that a root canal is the appropriate treatment.
Anesthesia: your dentist will inject local anesthesia to numb the infected tooth and surrounding tissues and might also give you a relaxant like nitrous oxide or an oral sedative. Talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry if you suffer from dental anxiety.
Accessing the pulp: a small opening is made in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp.
Pulp removal: your dentist will use small dental instruments to remove the nerves, blood vessels and tissues inside the tooth.
Canal shaping: Once all the pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, and shaped.
Filling: the cleaned canals are filled with a flexible, rubbery dental material called gutta-percha.
Sealing: a temporary dental filling is placed on the tooth to seal the opening and keep further bacteria out.
Final restoration: in all but the mildest cases, a permanent dental cap called a crown will be necessary to protect the treated tooth. Crowns are custom-made, and sometimes take several weeks to create. In that case, you’ll leave your procedure with a temporary filling and return for a second visit to have the crown placed.
Does A Root Canal Hurt?
The procedure itself is somewhat similar to having a tooth filled: once the area is thoroughly numbed, you shouldn’t experience any pain during the root canal treatment – only occasional sensations of pressure and the vibrations of the dental tools. The most important thing to remember is that the source of your initial pain – the infection – will be completely removed, so you should feel immediate relief.
That said, you might experience mild discomfort and sensitivity for a few days during the routine recovery time. This is normal and can generally be controlled with over-the-counter pain medications. In case of pain or severe sensitivity, speak to your dentist about prescription relief.
Get to the Root of Your Problem
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of infection listed above, don’t delay in seeking a root canal treatment. Ignoring severe tooth pain can lead to more serious damage to the infected tooth, as well as the possibility of the infection spreading to other teeth or even your jawbone.
Schedule an appointment with the root canal specialists at Brightwork Family Dentistry. Our team can help to assess your symptoms and recommend a course of treatment to relieve pain and help with your overall oral health.
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