11
Mar
Ouch, My Tooth Hurts! 5 Signs You Need Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment in Sarasota, Florida, is a standard procedure many patients undergo to save an infected/damaged tooth. Although the thought of a root canal can be intimidating, rest assured the procedure is painless and seamless at Vital Dental. Expertly administered by Dr. Mitul Patel, root canals are safe, comfortable, and quick.
Signs you need a root canal
A root canal is needed when harmful bacteria reach the inner layers of the tooth (pulp) because of a deep cavity, decay, or repeated procedure on the same tooth. When your tooth is infected, you’ll know it because of the unpleasant symptoms.
These include:
- Tooth pain: An infected tooth can be excruciating, which is always exacerbated when pressure is applied. The pain can be a stabbing, sharp, or dull ache that doesn’t go away even with home remedies. Root canal pain can radiate to the jaw, ear, or even the head, and simple activities like eating, sleeping, and concentrating become a source of pain.Â
- Tooth sensitivity: If you experience lingering sensitivity after consuming hot coffee or ice cream, it could indicate nerve damage inside the tooth. While mild sensitivity is common, prolonged or intense discomfort that persists even after removing the stimulus is a red flag for potential pulp infection.
- Tooth discoloration: Your teeth can pick up stains from several factors, including foods, drinks, tobacco, etc. However, if only one tooth is discolored (appears dark or brown), the cause could be more than your everyday cup of coffee. A tooth that appears discolored compared to adjacent teeth may have a dead pulp. This discoloration occurs because the blood supply to the internal tissues is cut off.
- Swollen gums: An infected tooth can inflame the surrounding gum tissue. You may notice swollen, puffy, or tender gums near the affected tooth. This swelling may be intermittent but often worsens as the infection progresses. In severe cases, swelling may spread to the face, neck, or jaw.
- Dental abscess: A pimple-like bump (dental abscess) on the gums near the affected tooth is a sign of infection. This abscess may ooze pus, leading to a foul taste or bad breath, no matter how well you clean your teeth. Pus drainage strongly indicates harmful bacteria have invaded the tooth and surrounding tissues, requiring immediate dental attention.
A root canal saves your tooth from extraction. The dentist removes the infected tissues to resolve the deep infection. Often, this is after numbing your gums with effective anesthetics for a painless experience. Next, the tooth is cleaned and filled with gutta-percha to seal out future infections. The final step is to restore your tooth with a crown to rebuild your aesthetics and function. The root canal procedure is more seamless and painless than most people expect.
A trusted root canal dentist near Sarasota
Root canal therapy relieves pain and saves a badly damaged tooth. Are you experiencing one or more root canal symptoms? The earlier you treat the tooth, the better the rate of success. Call (941) 371-2022 and schedule an appointment with Vital Dental!