A root canal is a surgical procedure where the infected tissue inside the tooth, known as the pulp, is removed and replaced with a filling. As dental infections are not contagious and the risks of improperly removing diseased pulp are greater than leaving it untreated, root canal treatment is a standard and safe procedure. Since the pulp tissue is what supports the tooth, it should never be removed without a replacement in place.
In order to understand when root canal treatment is necessary, you might need the help of an experienced dentist who offers dental care for your family in Tampa. Any of these five signs might show that a root canal is necessary:
- A pimple or abscess on the gums
A tooth that displays an abscess or a small pus-filled pimple will probably not be able to function properly, so it’s best to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. In addition, an abscess can cause a high level of stress on the nerve, which can lead to severe nerve damage and pain in the teeth or jaw.
- Sensitivity to cold and hot
If you feel pain in the tooth when you eat cold or hot food, then it could be the result of an infection that has spread to your gums and bone. Sensitivity to hot and cold is usually a warning sign of a disease that needs to be treated. And most of the time, root canal therapy may be necessary.
- Severe tooth pain
If you suddenly experience a severe toothache, then you may have an infection. If you ignore the pain and don’t seek treatment, it could spread to the bone and become more serious. The more serious it gets, the greater the chance that your jaw will develop a chronic infection which can affect your overall health and well-being.
- Tenderness or swelling
You should visit your dentist if you feel any abnormal swelling or tenderness in the affected tooth. If the pain is caused by inflammation, then it’s usually very localized and can be easily reversed by treating the root canal.
- No symptoms at all
If your tooth doesn’t have any symptoms at all, then it is possible that the infection has already spread to the bone and is causing more serious problems. In that case, you should seek treatment immediately. And the best type of treatment would be root canal therapy since it’s not as invasive as other dental procedures and can resolve the issue permanently.
