7 Warning Signs You Might Need a Root Canal

Root canals are one of the most common dental issues for which a patient must go to a dentist and get this treatment done.

Here we will understand the most common signs which can lead a tooth to a root canal.

The human teeth are made up of 3 layers:

• The Enamel (the outermost white layer)
• The Dentin (the middle yellow layer with sensitive nerve endings)
• The Pulp (the innermost layer with nerves and blood vessels)

When an infection gets inside a tooth structure i.e. in the pulp, the result is often inflammation and sharp pain that extends to the bone of the jaw itself. This suggests that the infection has crossed the enamel-dentin barrier and reached a stage that nerve in the tooth has got infected and thus needs a Root canal treatment. A root canal is also needed when you have a crack in your tooth exposing the pulp. Both situations allow bacteria from your mouth to reach your pulp, which can lead to the infection, swelling and eventually death of the pulp tissue and its nerve.

The swelling and inflammation within are because the nerve that runs from the inside of the tooth is part of the main nerve trunk running through your jaw bone.

Through root canal treatment we remove the decayed or infected pulp from a tooth, in order to provide immediate relief from the pain.

• Now you may wonder that how can one know that they need a root canal treatment?
• What are the signs that can at least point towards getting an appointment for a check-up from a dentist before it creates discomfort?

Well, there are signs that your jaw/teeth show up which can help you know that it is time to book an appointment and get a root canal treatment done by a dentist near you.

The root canal treatment in Delhi is a routine procedure being offered by some of the best dental clinics in Delhi through their specialists. The root canal treatment cost in Delhi is reasonable considering the life it adds to the tooth.

Signs:

1. Persistent Pain

Pain is always one of the most common signs that you need a root canal treatment.

This pain can be:

• Persistent or Consistent
• Intermittent or Recurring Over Time
• At Day or Night
• To Hot or Cold (Even after Removal of Stimuli)
• Eating Sweet or Sour
• In the Jaw or Concentrated Over an Area on the Face.
• You May Also Feel Referred Pain in Your Face, jaw, or in other Teeth.
• Applying any Pressure to Chew Food

Regardless of the reason behind the pain, it is always good to see a dentist in case of a toothache. Diagnosing a condition early can go a long way in preventing serious damage it may cause to the tooth and the patient’s pocket.

The pain in your tooth might bother you all the time or it might go away from time to time but always returns.

Tooth pain may have other causes besides root canal. Some other possibilities include:

• Gum Disease
• A Cavity
• Referred Pain from a Sinus Infection
• A Damaged Filling
• A Broken Tooth
• An Impacted Tooth that May be Infected

2. Sensitivity to Heat and Cold

Does your tooth hurt when you eat hot food or when you drink a cup of hot coffee/tea? Or perhaps your tooth feels sensitive when you eat ice cream or drink an icy-cold glass of water.

Sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages is also often a sign of the damage or infection reaching the roots of a tooth. If the pain stays for a certain amount of time even after you have stopped eating or drinking cold and hot food, it means that the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth are severely damaged.

If you experience lingering pain when you stop drinking and eating cold or hot food and drinks, then it’s time that you visit a dentist. Lingering pain may mean that the tooth pulp is already dead and may further infect the underlying nerves.

The sensitivity could feel like a dull ache or a sharp pain.

3. Tooth Discoloration

Infection inside the pulp/nerve of the tooth can cause discolouration in the tooth, turning it almost greyish in appearance. Tooth pulp can die in the event of a lack of blood flow, which causes this discolouration, which means that it is important to get a root canal treatment.

An infection in the pulp or trauma to tooth can cause your tooth to become discoloured. Trauma to the tooth or the breakdown of the internal tissues can damage the roots and give the tooth a greyish-black appearance.

Tooth pulps can die when there’s an inadequate blood supply, thus signalling a possible need for a root canal.

Although tooth discoloration can have other causes, it’s always a good idea to see your dentist if you notice that a tooth is changing colour.

4. Swollen Gums

The gums are often good indicators of oral health in a person. In case of swelling in gums with or without pain, that comes and goes with time, one may be need to check with a dentist. Gum swelling can be caused by acidic waste produced by a decaying or dead pulp in your tooth. Tenderness, swelling, gum boils, and pus-filled abscesses in the gum may mean that there is a need for a root canal.

5. Pain/Tenderness When You Eat or Touch the Tooth

If simple touching, eating, or even the slightest of pressure can cause pain in a tooth that does not go away, it may be a sign of serious nerve damage or pulp decay in the tooth.

If your tooth is sensitive when you touch it or when you eat, it could indicate severe tooth decay or nerve damage, which may need to be treated with a root canal. This is especially the case if the sensitivity persists over time and doesn’t go away when you stop eating.

The ligament around the root tip of an infected tooth may become hypersensitive from the dead pulp. The waste products from the dying pulp may irritate the ligament, causing pain from biting pressure.

6. A Chipped or Cracked Tooth

If you have ever chipped, broken or injured a tooth, it can lead the bacteria to enter the tooth and become the cause for an infection. Even if there is no chipping or cracking, an injury can still damage the nerves of a tooth, causing pain and sensitivity because of inflammation, which also requires a root canal.

Chipped or cracked tooth caused through an accident in a contact sport or by chewing on something hard can lead to inflammation and infection.

7. Tooth Mobility

An infected tooth often becomes loose. The acidic waste under the tooth can weaken the bone that holds a tooth and its root in place. This causes the mobility of a tooth. In such a scenario, a root canal may be needed with some cleaning of the surrounding gums to make the tooth stable.

8. Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess is a clear sign of bacterial infection. It is primarily of two types,

• Periapical Abscess (Infects the Tip of the Root)
• Periodontal Abscess (Infects the Gums)

An abscess in the tooth needs immediate attention. If untreated it may lead to unbearable pain in the tooth, which can radiate to the adjacent teeth, jaw and ear. The swelling can easily spread to the surrounding gums.

Ideally, your dentist or Endodontist (root canal specialist) will do all evaluations, including X-rays, before suggesting a root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is the only treatment to salvage a dead tooth.Only a dentist will be able to tell the right cause of a problem emerging in your mouth. But if you have a problem that may need a root canal treatment, waiting may cost you more than you think. If any of these signs exist and persist in your teeth or someone you know, consult ‘Smile Delhi- The Dental Clinic today.’ The root canal treatment cost is reasonable here. Single sitting root canal treatment is a routine procedure done in Smile Delhi, by the root canal specialist.

To book an appointment with us in, ‘Smile Delhi – The Dental Clinic’– call us on +91-9811106871 or whatsapp Dr. Suprriya B Bhatia on +91-9811106377. You can also mail us on [email protected]

“We Care To Make You Smile”

Posted by: Dr Hema