Root Canal Treatments
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess, a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal are: spontaneous or constant tooth pain, severe pain while chewing or biting, pimples on the gums, a chipped or cracked toot, lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, swollen or tender gums, dark tooth, deep decay or darkening of the gums.
During the root canal treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed, the canals are carefully cleaned and shaped then filled and sealed with a sterile material. Afterward, the dentist will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With new technology and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.
For the first few days after treatment, the tooth may feel sensitive, this discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. The tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed.
It is always better to maintain a healthy, natural smile whenever possible saving your own teeth, and root canals allow for just that. Extracting and then replacing a tooth results in more treatments and procedures, and could even impact neighboring teeth and supporting gums.