Many times a toothache is an early sign that you may need a root canal treatment.
What is a Root Canal Treatment?
Tooth decay is the main cause for needing a root canal treatment. What happens is that the decay gets into the pulp of the tooth, which you can see illustrated in the diagram shown to the right. In turn, the pulp becomes infected. The pulp will naturally try to fight off the infection which means it will want to swell. But within a tooth there is nowhere for the swelling to go, so the tissue dies instead of healing.
During a root canal treatment, the dead tissue is removed and the tooth is sealed. This procedure heals the infected tooth.
What to Expect
Root canals have earned a bad reputation and many people think that they are quite painful. The truth is that a root canal treatment is a relatively simple procedure and it’s not nearly as bad as it’s made out to be. The level of discomfort during a root canal is equivalent to having a cavity filled. In some cases you may not even feel the infected tissue anymore if it is dead.
If you are at all anxious about your appointment, there are things we can do to make your experience easier and more comfortable. We can use a local anesthetic to numb the area or you may be a candidate for nitrous oxide to help you relax. Dr. Noah will work with you and listen to your concerns and help determine what is right for you.
Possible Root Canal Symptoms
- Moderate to severe pain when drinking or eating hot or cold food or liquids. If the pain is mild or transitory, it may be possible to just do a filling if you come in promptly.
- Tooth pain when eating, chewing, or biting.
- A sensitive response to tapping on the tooth.
- Pain from a tooth that is waking you up at night.
- An irritated area of blood or pus located on your gum.
- Pain that radiates throughout your mouth.
If you think you may have an infected tooth or if you have any of the symptoms outlined in the list above. Feel free to call us to schedule an appointment. If you prefer, you may click here to request an appointment online.