Most of us have probably heard a horror story or two about root canals. It’s important to understand that modern-day root canals are quick and painless, and they offer the best solution to save a severely damaged or infected tooth from needing to be extracted.
Sometimes, you can see the need for a root canal coming, but in other cases, that treatment route might not be as obvious.
In this month’s blog, our team, led by Daniel Faiwiszewski, DMD, at Advanced Dental Care of Riverdale, located in the Bronx area of New York City, New York, wants to highlight some signs that a root canal is the best treatment for your oral health issue.
Your tooth has several layers. The innermost layer is comprised of a soft tissue called pulp, which contains all the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels. This layer can become infected or inflamed due to dental decay, cracks, or trauma.
At the start of a root canal, our team administers anesthesia to keep you comfortable for the entirety of the procedure. Next, Dr. Faiwiszewski creates a small hole in your tooth so he can access the area around the root of your tooth (root canal).
Using specialized tools, Dr. Faiwiszewski removes all the damaged pulp and then thoroughly cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth. Once all the infected and damaged substances are eliminated, he fills your tooth with dental materials to seal off the space to protect it against further damage.
The final step involves sealing the access point with a filling and, in some cases, placing a crown over the top of the tooth to protect it further.
If you’re having several oral health-related symptoms, it’s always wise to schedule an appointment with our team to have it checked out. Though it isn’t a guarantee, these are some indicators that you may need a root canal to address the issue:
Do you feel sharp pain when you take a sip of a hot beverage or when you eat something cold like ice cream? You may need a root canal. Severe and sudden tooth sensitivity to hot and cold could point to a serious problem, such as an infected tooth.
Gums that are tender, red, and bleeding often point to gum disease, but it could also mean severe tooth decay. Depending on the source of gum inflammation, you may need a root canal to address it.
Though tooth discoloration often comes from external sources, sometimes teeth lose their whiteness due to an internal problem, such as an infection. If your tooth doesn’t respond to teeth whitening methods, you may need a root canal.
If you have tooth pain when you bite down, even on something soft, a root canal may be in your near future.
It can be easy to put off dental treatment due to the fear of needing a root canal. However, a root canal doesn’t cause pain; it stops pain. And it’s often the difference between saving a tooth or needing an extraction, which comes with much more severe effects.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we’ve outlined, schedule an appointment to visit our Advanced Dental Care of Riverdale team. We’re ready to help.
