Not many people love going to the dentist and hearing that you need to have a treatment or procedure can be scary. But a lot of the time, the idea of treatment is scarier than the actual procedure itself. So if you think you need root canal treatment, let’s put your mind at ease and tell you everything you need to know!
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is the inner part of the tooth between the pulp and roots. These are also sometimes referred to as ‘passages’. Root canals contain blood vessels and nerves which help us sense heat, cold and other stimuli in the mouth.
The term root canal can also refer to the dental procedure that helps relieve root canal pain and infections.
What are the symptoms of root canal disease?
Root canal disease refers to when the root canal is infected. This can affect the tooth pulp by killing the blood vessels and nerves supplying the tooth. This can cause a lot of pain if untreated.
Some symptoms of root canal disease include swelling or tenderness around the gum, facial swelling, pain or discomfort when biting, chewing or putting any pressure on the area. You may also experience sensitivity to hot and cold which remains for a while even after the stimuli has been removed. Other possible symptoms include the darkening of the tooth or a small spot-like bump on the gums near the painful area.
You may not experience all of these symptoms and not all teeth pain are indications of root canal disease. But if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be worth contacting your dentist.
Untreated, root canal disease can be extremely painful and the infection can also spread beyond its original location.
What causes root canal disease?
Various factors can cause and effect root canal disease. Decay is one of these major factors. Tooth decay that has managed to penetrate the outer layer of the tooth can cause pain in the tooth. Gum disease and any injuries including cracks, chips or damage to the teeth can also lead to tooth decay and root canal issues. Any trauma to the tooth or recent dental procedures such as large fillings can also cause root canal issues.
All of these can put you at higher risk for infection in the tooth pulp which can lead to root canal issues.
What happens when you get root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is performed when a tooth is infected on the inside. This treatment is also known as endodontic treatment. Root canal treatment is a process whereby inflamed or dead pulp is removed from the inside of the tooth, enabling a tooth that was causing pain to be retained.
When undergoing treatment, anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. A small opening is created to access the inside of the tooth and specialist tools are then used to clear the root canal of inflamed and infected pulp.
Once this is done, medication is then placed in the tooth to treat the infection and eradicate any remaining bacteria. Then, once all the pulp is removed and the infection has been cleared, the canal is filled and sealed with a filling. After this, a crown or ceramic only may be required to protect the tooth from further damage.
Conclusion
We know that nobody likes having dental procedures, but when it comes to root canal disease, you are much better off addressing the issue quickly and efficiently. Removing the bacteria and infection from your root canal as soon as possible will help minimize the risk of further infection and keep your mouth healthy moving forward.
If you’re concerned that you may have an infection in your root canal, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
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