When you discover that you need a root canal, you might have more questions than answers. You should have some clarity after reading this article as to the reasons why you might need a root canal dental procedure! Additionally, we’ll go over some of the most common signs that you should get a tooth infection examined.
What Exactly is Root Canal Treatment?
A Root Canal Treatment is a popular dental operation used to treat and remove infection from a tooth. Each tooth contains a layer of ‘pulp’, which is delicate nerve tissue that exists in the core, along with blood vessels, and works to maintain the tooth healthy and alive. If the outer dentin layers that protect the pulp are damaged, the soft tissue becomes prone to infection.
Once infected, a tooth can immediately start to deteriorate. A root canal treatment consists of removing the infection, cleaning the infection site, and replacing any removed tooth materials with a filling or composite that prevents future infection. Many people believe that a root canal procedure is exceedingly painful, which is not the case. Your dentist should always make you as comfortable as possible throughout the dental procedure, and a local anaesthetic can be injected to numb the area and reduce discomfort.
A root canal is often recommended instead of a full tooth extraction since dental professionals constantly aim to preserve the original tooth structure or save it wherever possible. This keeps patients’ natural smiles intact, and installing a crown on top of the restored tooth is a less intrusive dental procedure than completely extracting and replacing the tooth. It is also a far more functional and pleasant solution in the long run.
Infections may occur when a tooth cracks, breaks, or chips; however, these events are not always required for an infection to take root.
The most common signs that you need a root canal treatment
We’ll go over some of the most common signs that you need a root canal treatment.
Sensitive or painful tooth
You may have an infection inside your tooth if you have a consistently painful or highly sensitive tooth. Infections occur when harsh bacteria grow, releasing harmful bacterial toxins that irritate the area. Pain is the body’s way of alerting us to a potential problem. Dental infections produce pain for a variety of reasons, including toxins and increased inflammation, as well as pressure on the tooth as white blood cells are dispatched to treat the infection.
Even when the soft tissue swells and gets inflamed, the dentin’s harder layers have nowhere to go, which can cause pain. This causes a sore, pressure-like sensation that may also be described as a toothache. Because of the sensitivity of our teeth’s nerve endings, even minor swelling can cause discomfort. The pain can be fairly intense, especially when eating or drinking hot or cold foods.
A root canal attempts to treat discomfort caused by an infection in the infected pulp by removing infected tissue and securing the natural tooth against future damage.
Tooth discolouration
Tooth discolouration may indicate that a part of the tooth’s inner pulp has perished or been harmed. This might happen as a result of dental trauma, such as an accident that cracks a tooth and exposes the pulp, causing it to decay. However, tooth discolouration is not always the sign of an infection; it can also be caused by a variety of other factors. Discolouration is a common sign related to smoking, taking in certain beverages, and even eating certain foods. Professionals can remove these kinds of stains, which appear on the surface of the teeth rather than the interior. Professional teeth-whitening procedures performed at home or during surgery can also be used to remove these exterior stains.
Chipped, fractured, or broken tooth
Dental trauma may result in a fracture in the tooth’s outer coating, leaving the pulp vulnerable to bacterial growth and causing pain or a toothache. One of the more obvious signs that you should have your teeth checked for internal damage brought on by physical trauma is a chipped, fractured, or broken tooth.
It is helpful to identify the less evident signs that your teeth may be more susceptible to infection, because a tooth infection is not always noticeable. Regardless of whether an infection is present or not, fractured teeth should be examined and, if possible, corrected to prevent more harm or issues.
An unpleasant odour or taste in the mouth
Unpleasant odour or taste in the mouth is only two of the signs and effects that can result from infections, which include the spread of harmful bacteria and chemicals. Since many people take pride in their dental and oral cleanliness, it may be very uncomfortable when things start to seem “off.”
If you haven’t made any changes to your usual routine and you suddenly notice that you have bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth, an infection could be the cause.
Something else might be wrong if your dental hygiene routine hasn’t changed. If you have any concerns, it is best to talk to your dentist in person so they can evaluate the situation more thoroughly and offer tailored advice.
Finding the cause of tooth discolouration is important since you don’t want to miss an infection and allow it to worsen. If you have any worries, contact your dentist.
Southside Dental Care’s Root Canal Treatment
Any of the signs listed above could indicate a tooth infection and require expert root canal treatment.
Any concerns should be checked, even if they do not point to an infection or the need for a root canal! As a one-stop dental expert for all of our Glasgow patients, Southside Dental Care provides both general and cosmetic dentistry services.
Book an appointment today or give us a call at 07743 020777. Our friendly staff will put in a lot of effort to find the best answer to your problems.
