Root Canal—two small words that can make any adult feel weak in the knees. But you should know there’s no reason to cringe at the thought of this procedure. Our dentists at Parker Dental & Orthodontics believe in making each dental appointment as pleasant and painless as possible. The only reason your Hurley dentist would recommend a root canal is to save your natural teeth. Your dentist will work with you to develop the best plan to help you do just that. Let’s look at what root canal therapy really is, how to know if you need it, and the process to give you a better understanding.

The Truth About Root Canals

So, what is root canal therapy really? Root canals are performed to save a dying tooth from becoming further infected and spreading infections. Although our teeth were originally made to last a lifetime, certain circumstances cause unexpected infections like trauma or the buildup of dental bacteria.

If left untreated, your teeth will start to decay all the way from the root of your tooth (on the inside) and eventually die. Our dental professionals can perform this “life-saving” procedure to get your oral health back on track! Not only will they remove every sign of infection, but they will fill the tooth with a biocompatible material, and seal the area with a CEREC same day dental crown. This quick ending to your root canal will keep your tooth from getting infected by dangerous bacteria in the future.

Signs of a Dying tooth

Your teeth are constantly vulnerable to infection. Sometimes, dental bacteria can get the best of us in certain situations. For instance, if you had recently taken a blow to the jaw and cracked a tooth, the food you’ve been eating, plaque, and other dangerous debris could be building up inside your tooth. There are telltale signs of tooth infections, and unfortunately, most of them are painful. You will be able to feel or see symptoms like these if you have an infected tooth:

Abscess

Essentially a hole in the jaw bone that shows up as a black spot during dental x-rays because the bone does not grow in that area. Healthy jaw bones won’t grow in an area contaminated with infection.

Fistula (bump) on gums

Typically, a white, yellow, or red pimple looking bump that appears on your gum line. You can tell that this comes from infection because your body is trying to rid the infection by venting it out with bodily fluids such as blood or puss.

Positional pain

Tooth pain that occurs when you lie down or suddenly stand up. This can be a sign of an abscess or dead tooth.

Referred pain

Pain that not only occurs in your tooth but another part of your body. Additional pain can occur in your jaw, ear, neck, or surrounding teeth.

Spontaneous pain

Tooth pain that occurs from a stimulus, like a hot or cold drink. Sometimes this can also be caused by extremely sweet foods or drinks as well.

Get a Professional’s Opinion

Parker Dental & Orthodontics is equipped with the modern technology you need. If you’ve noticed any of these signs of an infected, dying tooth, call our office. Sometimes other dental practices may misdiagnose your symptoms of an infected tooth. Even if you’ve seen another dentist, it’s important to get a second opinion, especially when it comes to a dangerously infected tooth. Contact our office to schedule an appointment!