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5 Signs You Need to Get a Root Canal Treatment
Oct 10, 2019
Picture the pulp of your tooth, which is composed of blood vessels and nerves. Once it’s damaged, the decay will spread to other parts of the tooth and may even impair other teeth and your gums. A root canal procedure removes the inside of your tooth, so it can be cleaned and then sealed. For some people, the thought of getting a root canal is frightening and distressing. While root canals are infamous for being painful, they are essential procedures that dentists use to save and repair your teeth.
Often, people wait until they feel persistent, nerve-wracking pain before they go to the dentist. But this is a sign that the tooth infection is already advanced. Don’t wait until you can’t eat and drink before you see your dentist. Ignoring signs of damaged and decaying teeth can cause a myriad of dental problems, that’s why early detection is imperative.
Here are other symptoms that one or more of your teeth needs immediate attention:
1. A chipped tooth
A chipped tooth may sound minor, but one should never ignore it. Chips and cracks expose the nerves beneath its surface. This allows bacteria to fester, forming an infection that can enter the bloodstream and lead to severe dental problems.
If you crack a tooth, either by biting on something hard or while playing contact sports, visit your dentist immediately. An untreated chipped tooth requires a root canal to prevent more damage.
2. Tooth sensitivity
If you notice any discomfort while sipping a hot cup of tea or eating ice cream, it’s best to schedule a trip to the dentist. Tooth sensitivity often starts as a dull ache that can get worse and more painful over time. Usually, damaged blood vessels and nerve endings are to blame. A root canal procedure will be able to address this problem.
3. Swollen gums
Swollen gums shouldn’t be ignored because they can be a sign of a deeper problem. If inflammation or infection is to blame, your dentist may decide to perform a root canal.
4. Tooth Discoloration
Most times, discoloured teeth are due to poor dental hygiene. Smoking and exposure to particular food and drinks, such as coffee and tea, can also cause your teeth to turn yellowish or brownish. A thorough cleaning can usually fix this problem, but sometimes, a darkening tooth is a sign of nerve or root damage beneath its surface. When your dentist detects this, he or she needs to perform a root canal to prevent further damage.
5. Persistent and prolonged pain
If that tooth pain has been bothering you for weeks and is not showing any signs of improvement, a root canal may be your saviour. Persistent and prolonged pain is often the result of a badly damaged root, which will not heal on its own. Sometimes, the tooth may be repaired and spared, so it’s best to be proactive and see your dentist immediately.
When your dental practitioner tells you that a root canal is your only option, you don’t have to go into full panic mode. Root canals are quite common, and with an experienced doctor, they don’t have to be as painful as you would imagine.
If you suspect any of the above problems with your teeth or you need a root canal treatment, get in touch with DAAS Dentistry to see how we can help!
Dr. Ehab Daas
Meet your doctor
Dr. Ehab is a passionate dentist with 15 years of dental experience. He received his D.D.S in 1997, and has practiced dentistry for 6 years since then. Immediately after that, Dr. Da'as moved to Paris to get his Orthodontics and Prosthodontic diploma's in which he specialized in fixed bridges and crowns. He graduated from France with remarkable achievements in 2005, and went on to work for 9 years, focusing on difficult orthodontics cases and satisfying his ortho patients. Dr. Ehab moved to Canada in 2014 to continue his career, where he is proud and extremely honoured to provide his patients with the highest quality service.
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