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Underneath your tooth's outer enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue referred to as the pulp tissue. Root canal therapy is performed to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. Many people associate root canal therapy with being painful, but the pain exhibited is caused by a severe infection of your tooth. With root canal therapy, relief can be brought to your tooth without having to extract it. The only alternative to root canal therapy is to the extract the tooth, which can result in a bad bite. The empty space left behind will require an implant or a bridge, ultimately making a root canal the best choice in eliminating an infection. What is Root Canal Therapy and Why do you Need it? Your tooth will not heal by itself. Root canal therapy is necessary to save your tooth and prevent extraction. Without treatment, your infection can spread and the bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate and your tooth may fall out. Pain usually worsens until you are forced to seek emergency dental attention. With root canal therapy, you will have the choice to keep your original tooth and avoid extraction. Root canals are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. When the pulp becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture, bacteria is allowed to seep in causing the pulp to die. Damaged or dead pulp causes an increase in blood flow and cellular activity. Pressure from inside the tooth is unable to be relieved, causing pain in the tooth. Your pain can often be felt when biting down, chewing on the tooth and applying hot or cold foods and drinks. Root Canal Therapy: Signs and Symptoms you May Need One Initially, if you have an infection of the pulp, you may not feel any pain. If the infection is left untreated, it will cause pain and swelling, with some cases forming an abscess. You may need root canal therapy if your tooth: • Hurts when you bite down on it, touch it or push on it
• Is sensitive to heat or cold for more than a couple of seconds
• Has swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue
• Is discolored
• Is broken
• Shows signs of infection visible on a radiograph Your dentist may recommend a root canal in situations like these in order to save your infected tooth and preserve its functionality. Root canal therapy can be performed in one or more visits, depending on the severity of your infection.
If you are exhibiting pain in one tooth or multiple teeth, it is important to visit your Cleveland and Parma dentist for consultation and assessment of your teeth. Without treatment, your infection could spread and the bone around the tooth can begin to degenerate causing the tooth to fall out. Consult your dentist immediately to put an end to your tooth pain.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Kent Lamoreux, a leading dentist in Parma, OH. Providing comprehensive dental care including, implants, veneers and whitening, Dr. Lamoreux is a highly-regarded immediate care dentist in Cleveland and Parma.
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