Do I Need a Root Canal?
Root canals, don’t really have the best track record for being a patient favorite when they first walk into the office. They hear the word and automatically think it is going to be a painful procedure. This is completely false. Many patients may have heard about root canals in the past, but may not know exactly what they do for their teeth. They may just know that if you are experiencing tooth pain that it may result in a root canal.
So when exactly is a root canal necessary? What are symptoms that you may want to look out for that may warrant a visit to your local Lindale dentist for a checkup? We will get into that right now.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
When you visit your dentist for your semi-annual cleanings, we will look for any signs of tooth decay or excessive plaque buildup on your teeth. We always try to catch warning signs of any type of dental issue as soon as possible to make treatment as easy as possible for you. We also look for any other warning signs that might indicate that you might need a root canal such as:
- Tooth and gum pain
- Swelling and inflammation
- Hypersensitivity to temperatures- either hot or cold
- Discoloration of the tooth- indicates decay
- Dental abscess
- Bumps on the gums
If you find any of these signs in between visits, it is important that you make an appointment to see your dentist so that your dental issues can be addressed as soon as possible.
Another sign that you may need a root canal is if you chip or crack your tooth. A trauma can inflame the pulp inside your tooth or can cause it to be infected. Or, if your tooth was already infected or decayed, it could have cracked or chipped from starting to die. No matter the case, a root canal would be necessary to try to save your natural tooth. We always recommend trying to save your natural tooth whenever possible.
Root Canal Procedure
Root canal procedures are virtually painless. The entire area that is worked on during the procedure is numbed. You do not feel any discomfort at all while you are being relieved of the pain you had experienced before coming into the office.
The purpose of the procedure is to remove the inflamed or infected pulp from the interior of your tooth. After the pulp is removed, the root canal is cleaned and the space that was removed is filled back again. The total root canal procedure is not a long one. You can expect recovery for a root canal to be about the same as it is for filling a cavity.
Schedule an Appointment
While root canals have a 95% success rate, they are usually our last attempt to save your natural tooth. We are hopeful that we can catch tooth decay or other issues before it gets to the point of needing a root canal.
If you find yourself with any of the symptoms that we listed above, it is important that you make yourself an appointment to be seen. Give us a call at (903) 231-6605 to schedule an appointment. And, if you ever find yourself with a chipped or cracked tooth, The Center for Implant and General Dentistry is available at all hours for emergencies as well.