Dental Pain Solutions: 7 Clear Signs You Need a Root Canal

Did you know that almost nine in 10 US adults aged 20 to 64 have had dental caries? Or that over one in four people has untreated tooth decay?

It's one reason that today, 36 million Americans no longer have any teeth. Overall, about 120 million people in the US have at least one missing tooth.

Unfortunately, once you lose a permanent tooth, there's no getting it back. That's why you should know the signs you need a root canal, as this treatment can help save a decayed tooth.

Ready to learn what's a root canal and how you can tell you need one? Keep reading then, as that's exactly what you'll learn in this post!

Surface decay, the type of decay that affects the tooth's surface or enamel, is treatable with a dental filling. This involves removing the decayed area of the tooth first to prevent further damage. Your dentist will then "fill" the empty spot with a material such as composite resin.

Left untreated, however, the decay will only worsen and affect the deeper parts of the tooth. The tooth will lose more of its structure as the decay eats away at it. Over time, this may result in painful, inflamed, or infected gums.

The longer you put off getting dental treatment , the higher your chances of losing that tooth.

A root canal procedure can save even a severely decayed or infected tooth. This tooth-saving treatment involves the removal of bacteria in the affected root canal. The dentist will also give the inside of the tooth a thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

After this, a sealant goes over the tooth to protect it from more bacterial attacks. In this way, a root canal therapy also prevents reinfection of the decayed tooth.

With early root canal treatment, you don't have to say goodbye to your natural tooth.

You may have heard scary stories about root canal pain during treatment. However, modern root canal therapy is nothing like the old days. Imaging, magnification, and instrumentation innovations make it safer, faster, and less uncomfortable.

For instance, experienced dentists now use 3-D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. This digital scanning technology helps them diagnose and interpret cases faster and better.

Dentists now also have access to more innovative magnification and illumination tools. Today's microscopic devices and dental loupes provide more powerful magnification. They also now come with LED lighting to further improve visibility inside the gums.

Even the hand instruments used by dentists now allow for faster and safer treatment. There’s nickel-titanium, for instance, which is more elastic than stainless steel. Instrument design also lets dentists remove infections more accurately.

Studies suggest that root canal patients don't think it's the worst dental procedure.

It may have been painful decades ago, but it's no longer the case, thanks to the many dental innovations. Plus, your dentist will give you anesthesia, making it even less painful than you think. In fact, it's not any more painful than getting a filling or a tooth extracted.

So, how do you know if you need a root canal procedure?

From tooth to root canal pain to blisters, below are the telling signs you need a root canal treatment.

1. Severe Toothache

A severe toothache is one of the most common root canal symptoms. This may feel like a dull ache or a recurring sharp, stabbing pain.

2. Pain that Gets Worse When You Chew

You likely need a root canal if your tooth pain gets much worse when you chew or clench your jaw. What you’re feeling may already be root canal pain due to infection.

3. Sensitivity to Heat or Cold

Sensitivity to heat or cold is also among the most common symptoms of root canal infection. This can be either a tingling sensation or even sharp pain in your mouth. You may feel this whenever you eat or drink hot or cold foods or liquids or even if the air is cold.

4. Darkening of the Tooth

Another of the most common symptoms of needing a root canal is tooth discoloration. If you have a tooth that's darker or has become browner than the rest, you may need root canal therapy.

5. Swollen Gums

If the gums around the decayed tooth become swollen, sore, and red, it may be time for a root canal therapy.

6. Mouth-Wide Gum Sensitivity

Left untreated, a tooth infection can spread to other areas of the mouth. In time, your entire mouth, rather than just a specific area, may feel more sensitive. Swelling and tenderness in the gums may also spread.

7. Pus-Filled Blisters

Root canal infection may spread to the surface of the gums and appear as blisters with pus.

If you experience any of these root canal symptoms, you should schedule a dental check-up soon. Not only will a root canal therapy keep these symptoms at bay — it'll also help you preserve your natural tooth!

Once you've had your root canal therapy, you may still feel the effects of the anesthesia for two to four hours. It's not very unpleasant though, so you can still go to school or work right after.

Be careful, however, of eating immediately after the procedure. Stay away from hard foods to prevent irritating the treated tooth and gums.

Also, tell the dentist if you're very sensitive to pain, as you may need to take OTC pain relievers.

The success rate of endodontic treatment, based on many studies, is between 89% to 94%. That's already impressive, but these studies were still conducted several years ago. That means they don't include the latest treatments, which have improved through innovation.

Either way, these studies prove that root canal therapy has saved millions of teeth. Especially with the high incident rate of dental caries in the US.

There are still many people who lose permanent teeth, but the numbers have gone down in recent years. In fact, there was a 2% decrease in edentulous adults between 2011 to 2016 from 1999 to 2004.

Today's better, more innovative endodontic treatment has contributed to this decrease. Rather than extracting a decayed tooth, root canal therapy keeps it in its proper place.

There you have it, your ultimate guide to endodontic treatment and the signs you need a root

canal. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, don't delay seeing a dentist. Again, today's root canal therapy isn't scary, and it's one of the best ways to preserve your natural teeth.

Here at Riverside Dental Care , we'll make sure that you feel at ease during your root canal therapy.

Get in touch with us now so we can help you keep your permanent teeth in their proper locations!