How to Know If You Need a Root Canal Therapy?
Posted by STEVEN H. BRENMAN DMD on Jul 23 2020, 06:41 AM
A root canal infection is one of the most severe oral conditions that can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. It is often caused due to untreated cavities that advanced deep into the underlying layers of the teeth. Most patients who develop a root canal infection wouldn’t understand its severity, and so it is ignored. This can cost you a lot more money and effort to get it treated. Or worse, you may end up losing your tooth.
How to identify a root canal infected tooth?
Root canal infection has several symptoms that patients can watch out for. Some of them are:
- Large cavity: Since cavities are the primary cause of a root canal infection, you may be able to see the cavity growing deeper and wider.
- Severe pain: The infected tooth would pain a lot, especially when you bite and chew food, brush the teeth, clench the jaw, or accidentally touch it.
- Discoloration: The tooth may appear dull or discolored due to the infected tissues underneath. The discoloration would be visible only for the infected tooth, which is quite difficult to remove by teeth whitening as well.
- Bleeding: The gums near the infected tooth would bleed and discharge pus. This is caused due to the decayed tissues, which exposes the blood vessels in the gums.
- Foul breath: Due to the discharge of pus, patients could experience severe bad breath.
- Loosening tooth: Over time, the underlying jawbone could deteriorate due to the action of the microbes. This can loosen the tooth from its socket, and if left untreated, it can even cause tooth loss.
How can you act on it?
When you notice any of these symptoms, reach out to a dentist at the earliest and get the teeth diagnosed. The dentist will conduct a thorough examination, determine the severity of your oral concern, and suggest a suitable treatment. If the cavity hasn’t advanced to the deeper layers of the tooth, it may be restored with a filling. We usually recommend composite resin filling as it can be customized and mimic the appearance of the natural teeth.
In case the condition is severe, you will be prepared for the root canal therapy. The dentist will clean your teeth thoroughly and place a rubber dam on them to isolate the infected tooth. With the help of highly precise dental instruments, a small hole will be made on the tooth. Thin dental files will be inserted in it, and the infected pulp will be removed. The files will also be used to scrub the walls of the cavity. A jet of water is used to wash away the removed debris and clean the cavity.
We will place a small amount of antimicrobial medication in the cavity, and it will be sealed off with suitable filling material. After a few days, a customized dental crown will be fabricated and bonded to it. The crown keeps the tooth from cracking or breaking, and you can carry out your routine oral activities without worrying about the tooth getting damaged.
Reach out to us to know more about your treatment. Call us at (718) 447-4510 or schedule an online appointment.