What are the Major Signs That You Need a Root Canal?
young man cooling down his toothaches with an ice bag
Root canals are painful procedures that involve removing decayed tissues from the tooth to prevent infection. This kind of treatment can save a diseased tooth or make an infected tooth easier to deal with. A Mooresville general dentist can evaluate the condition of the tooth and the surrounding gum tissues to determine if you should get a root canal.
You may need a root canal treatment if your tooth is injured during an accident or you notice any of these signs.
- Swelling or infected gums
If your gums become severely swollen, this could be a sign that bacteria are infecting your tooth. A general dentist may need to remove part of the infected tissue from the tooth and replace it with an antibiotic filling to cure the infection.
- Sores or cuts on the gums
If you notice sores or cuts in your gums, it may be a sign of infection. In some cases, the infection may have traveled beneath the gum tissue and into the tooth itself.
- Tooth pain
If you feel pain anytime in your tooth or gums, especially after eating food or drinking hot beverages, it could be an indication that your tooth is infected. Often infections are accompanied by severe pain that makes it difficult to sleep at night.
- Tooth chipping or cracking
Tooth decay is usually accompanied by tooth chipping or cracking that has the appearance of a sunken crater. A general dentist can fill in the tooth to protect it while you wait for your next dental appointment.
- Localized swelling
Many people confuse this symptom with a canker sore, which is an easily-diagnosed sore on the surface of the gums, but it’s actually an infection that may have spread to your tooth.
- A broken tooth
If you break a tooth and no longer have the protective layer of enamel, you may expose the sensitive root tissue inside. Once this happens, you can develop an infection that can spread to other teeth.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold is a common sign that there may be decay or cracks in the tooth. If you can feel pain when eating ice cream or drinking hot beverages, contact your dentist right away to see if root canal treatment is necessary.
