You Might Need a Root Canal if you Have One of These 7 Signs
Getting to the Root of Your Tooth Pain
A toothache is one of the most common dental complaints many of us have. Majority of people think that the pain might be due to tooth decay, but the truth is that are various underlying reasons one may suffer from a toothache. There can be different causes of a toothache, such as gum disease, jaw clenching, tooth sensitivity, cavity etc.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure to repair and save an injured or infected tooth and prevent future infection. The treatment includes removing the infected part of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and shaping it and thereafter filling and sealing it. The cause of pulp damage maybe tooth injury, a root cavity, recurring dental procedures, decay, or a broken tooth.
Why Do Dentists Suggest Root Canal Treatment?
What is a root canal treatment?
In simple terms, a root canal treatment is done if the core of your tooth is infected. You are treated for it, when the nerve of your tooth is infected, decayed, or dead.
Remedies for Teeth Sensitivity
Teeth sensitivity is a tingly feeling or a flash pinch of pain affecting either all teeth or one or more teeth. The pain associated with tooth sensitivity may occur constantly or intermittently. Intermittent tooth sensitivity can occur while ingesting hot or cold food or beverages, or when cold air hits the teeth.
Remedies
- Desensitizing toothpaste – There are several brands of toothpaste for sensitive teeth available. Your dentist may recommend one or you may have to try different brands until you find the product that works for you. Be sure to use fluoridated toothpaste for sensitive teeth, not whitening toothpaste. Try spreading a thin layer of the desensitizing toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots before bed.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Avoid highly acidic foods
- Use a fluoridated mouthwash
- Avoid teeth grinding
The Dental Visit
It is always best to see a dentist about sensitive teeth to determine the true nature of the sensitivity. During the consultation, your general dentist will ask you questions about the nature of sensitivity. Xrays and tests may be performed
Once it is determined that the cause does not require dental restorative treatment, your general dentist may apply an in-office desensitizer, which acts as protective coating designed to thwart any hypersensitivity.
The following are some dental procedures that may reduce tooth sensitivity:
- Bonding, dental crowns or inlays – These may fix a tooth flaw or decay that is causing sensitivity.
- Fluoride gel or varnish
- Surgical gum graft – This will protect the root and reduce sensitivity if the gum tissue has eroded from the root.
- Root canal Treatment – This is a last-resort treatment for severe tooth sensitivity that has not been helped by other methods.
So if you’ve been suffering with painful sensitivity that keeps you from eating the foods you love, make an appointment with your general dentist.
Looking For Root Canal Treatment In Calgary?
To make an accurate diagnosis about your tooth’s need for endodontic therapy (root canal), your dentist will need to evaluate information collected from a number of different sources.
And while there are some obvious signs that nearly everyone is familiar with, there are also a number of less apparent ones that quite possibly only your dentist will notice.
1. Symptoms you have noticed – It’s usually the presence of discomfort and/or swelling that signals to a person that their tooth has a problem. Your dentist will quiz you about what you have experienced.
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Pain
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Sensitivity to hot/cold
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Gum tenderness or swelling
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Frequency of pain or swelling
2. Signs noticed by your dentist – Some teeth give little indication that there’s a problem within their nerve space. But to the trained eye, these subtle hints can be an obvious sign that a problem likely exists.
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Identifying problem teeth with x-rays
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Recurring or persistent gum pimples
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Individually darkened teeth
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Exposure of a tooth’s nerve
3. Additional testing – Once a dentist has identified a suspect tooth, they may then perform additional testing that can help to confirm their suspicions.
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Percussion testing – tapping the end of one of their instruments on your tooth.
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X-ray evaluation
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Thermal testing
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Electric pulp testing – A pulp tester transmits low-levels of electrical current to a tooth. The general idea is that a healthy nerve will respond with a tingling sensation. A dead nerve will have no response.
If you notice any of the signs and symptoms mentioned here, you should contact your dentist and make arrangements to be evaluated and receive treatment in a time frame they determine is necessary.
Don’t make assumptions and don’t delay
Some people won’t seek treatment promptly if, in their mind, they think it’s already too late, will cost too much money or else the idea of having the treatment is too unnerving for them.
Don’t make this mistake. If you have a tooth that’s displaying symptoms, have your dentist evaluate it sooner rather than later. Doing so may make a big difference in what you experience, what type of treatment you require and its total cost.