Top Two Signs You Need Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is usually a simple procedure with little or no discomfort. Surprisingly though most people still dread this procedure and end up putting it off. If left untreated, an infected root canal can lead to a very painful and pus-filled abscess which needs immediate attention.

Root canal treatment involves one to three visits to a dentist and it's important to note that the root canal surgery actually relieves the pain so it's always in your best interest to see a doctor whenever you feel any tooth discomfort.

If you’re currently experiencing tooth pain or extreme sensitivity then read on, we're diving into the top two signs you need to be aware of.

1. Intense Tooth Pain

One of the biggest giveaways that you need a root canal is extreme tooth pain. When you have an infected root canal, the tooth is basically dying and decaying.

The pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp or shooting pain. It can be constant or come and go but pain almost always accompanies the need for a root canal treatment.

If not treated, the infection can spread and create even worse pain.

2. Swollen Gums or Cheeks

One of the most common signs of infection is inflammation. If you have a tooth infection, swelling of the gums will often follow. The need for a root canal isn't always accompanied by swelling but it’s definitely something to look for.

Often root canal patients will report swelling or a gum boil focused near the tooth root, pronounced lumps of swelling, and foul breath.

So What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a treatment used to save a tooth with an infected or dead pulp and prevent the infection from spreading. A root canal saves the affected tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal.

What Causes It?

The main cause of a root canal infection is bacteria that has penetrated the tooth pulp and irritated the tooth's nerves causing an infection. Bacteria can find its way into the tooth in many ways:

●    Cracked or physically damaged teeth

●    Tooth decay (like untreated cavities)

●    Teeth displacements

●    Teeth abnormalities

●    Necrosis

How Do I Know If I Need A Root Canal?

If you need a root canal treatment, you will probably experience the symptoms of pulp tissue damage. These are the most common symptoms of an injured or damaged pulp:

●    Pain when biting down and chewing

●    Oversensitivity of teeth with hot or cold food or beverages

●    Facial swelling

What’s Involved In A Root Canal Procedure?

Depending on the difficulty of the procedure, you may need more than one visit to complete the treatment.

Preparing for root canal treatment

Before having root canal treatment, your dentist may take a series of X-rays of the affected tooth.

This allows them to build up a clear picture of the root canal and assess the extent of any damage.

Root canal treatment is usually carried out under local anaesthetic, a painkilling medicine that numbs your infected tooth and the gum around it.

In some cases where the tooth has died and is no longer sensitive, it may not be necessary to use a local anaesthetic.

Removing the pulp

Your dentist will place a rubber sheet (dam) around the tooth to ensure it's dry during treatment.

The dam also prevents you swallowing or breathing in any chemicals the dentist uses.

Your dentist will open your tooth through the crown, the flat part at the top, to access the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth (pulp). They'll then remove any infected pulp that remains. 

If you have a dental abscess, which is a pus-filled swelling, your dentist will be able to drain it at the same time.

Cleaning and filling the root canal

After the pulp has been removed, your dentist will clean and enlarge the root canal.

The root canal is usually very narrow, which makes it difficult to fill.

Your dentist will use a series of small files to enlarge the canals and make them a regular shape so they can be filled.

This part of the treatment may take several hours, and may need to be carried out over a number of visits.

Your front incisor and canine teeth (biting teeth) usually have a single root containing 1 root canal.

The premolars and back molar teeth (chewing teeth) have 2 or 3 roots, each containing either 1 or 2 root canals.

The more roots a tooth has, the longer the treatment will take to complete.

If the treatment needs to be carried out over several sessions, your dentist may put a small amount of medicine in the cleaned canal in between visits to kill any remaining bacteria.

The tooth will then be sealed using a temporary filling.

If you have symptoms from the infection, such as a raised temperature or large swelling, you may be given antibiotics to help manage and prevent further infection.

Sealing and fixing the tooth

At your next visit, the temporary filling and medicine within the tooth is removed and the root canal filling will be inserted.

This, along with a filling, seals the tooth and prevents reinfection.

Root-filled teeth are more likely to break than healthy unrestored teeth, so your dentist may suggest placing a crown on the tooth to protect it.

In some cases a root-filled tooth may darken, particularly if it's died as a result of injury like a knock to the tooth.

There are several ways your dentist can treat discolouration, such as whitening the tooth using chemicals.

Adding a crown

A crown is a cap that completely covers a real tooth. It might be necessary to use a crown after root canal treatment to prevent the tooth fracturing.

Crowns can be made from:

• metal or porcelain (or both)
• a ceramic material
• powdered glass

The dentist will reduce the size of your tooth and use the crown to replace what's removed.

A mould of your tooth will be taken to ensure the crown is the right shape and size, and fits your tooth accurately.

When fitting the crown, cement will be used to glue the crown to the trimmed-down tooth.

If there's only a small amount of tooth left after the root canal treatment, a post can be cemented in the root canal and used to help keep the crown in place.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, we urge you to make an appointment with your dentist immediately. The longer you wait to seek medical assistance, the more dangerous and worse your condition can be. If you live in Hawthorn, Kew, Deepdene and Camberwell and want to schedule an appointment for root canal treatment, call our clinic today.