Your teeth have roots. And in these roots are canals, which are narrow openings with blood vessels and nerve fibers providing nutrients and sensation to your teeth. When, for whatever reason, these vessels and nerves become infected or decayed, you’ll feel pain. Your diseased tooth will then need a root canal, which is a procedure where a dentist removes pulp from inside the problem tooth and fills the canal up to essentially seal that space.
Warning Signs You May Need a Root Canal
If you have a tooth that has a crack or cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp of that tooth. Then you can get an infection or worse: bone loss/loss of the tooth. This sort of problem can also occur if you’re involved in a traumatic injury whereas you experience nerve tissue damage. Say, for example, you’re playing baseball and the ball hits you in the mouth. That could conceivably end up leading to the need for a root canal!
How might you know you have a problem that could require a root canal? If your tooth gets overly sensitive to hot or cold drinks, it starts to get discolored or gets “gray,” it starts to hurt while you’re chewing food, or you notice it seems to drain something (from the tooth), then it’s worth a trip to the dentist to investigate what’s going on. You might also notice gum or facial swelling, and your gums near the problem tooth could swell or feel tender. In some cases, just so you know, there aren’t any symptoms yet you still have an issue. Oftentimes, dentists can take X-rays of your teeth (and mouth) and point out problem areas. They have the expertise to know what to look for when it comes to the need for a root canal.
Are you scared of the idea of a root canal because you think it’s beyond painful? Don’t be scared. Modern technology has made treatment much more bearable than how it used to be decades ago.
If you wonder if you need a root canal, make an appointment at Genesee Dental. Please call 585-343-1113. Genesee Dental is located in downtown Batavia, New York, halfway between Buffalo and Rochester.