Pain. Strong pain does not always mean that the patient needs a root canal treatment. In some cases, the tooth which requires the surgery, may not even hurt. When pain is present, however, this can indicate a necessity for a root canal.
Do I Need A Root Canal If There Is No Pain? Pain and swelling may be common, but they are not always present. You may experience mild or even the absence of symptoms for a time, but eventually that tooth will become painful.
Root canal therapy becomes necessary when there is a problem with a tooth's pulp, which is the soft substance in its center that contains its nerve and blood vessels. In many cases, problems with the pulp irritate the nerve and cause significant pain. However, in other cases, there is virtually no pain.
One Of The Signs You Need A Root Canal Is Persistent Pain
If you have trouble doing normal activities such as drinking or eating without feeling pain, you should see your dentist as soon as you can. Your dentist will examine your aching tooth to see if your blood vessels or nerves have become inflamed due to infection.
Some Signs That Your Dentist Might See That Suggest You May Need a Root Canal: Sometimes a dentist will find conditions in your teeth that require a root canal: Issues identified by X-ray – X-rays show infection as dark spots located at the tip of the roots of the tooth.
You must undergo a root canal within a few weeks to fully eliminate the infection and save your tooth.
There are other procedures that may be done as an alternative to a root canal. These include pulp capping, pulpotomy, and extractions. Whether or not these procedures are appropriate depends on your specific condition.
If a root canal is delayed for too long, the bacterial infection can spread to other areas of the mouth, putting the patient at risk for serious dental problems and other medical conditions. The infection can cause something called a dental abscess, which is a pus filled sac that requires immediate medical attention.
In case you are wondering whether or not a tooth that needs a root canal can heal itself, the straightforward answer is no. The infected tissue inside the tooth cannot heal independently and will only get worse with time.
Infection Can Spread
For example, if the infection is located in the root of the tooth, it can spread to other teeth and to the jawbone. This would lead to an increase of pain. The worst case of an infection spreading could occur if spread to the brain. If this occurs, it could lead to death.
Some Minor Pain Is Normal After Root Canal Treatment
Soon, the discomfort will go away, but until then, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. There are a few reasons that you may experience some pain even though the nerve of your tooth has been removed during root canal therapy.
A root canal infection brings severe pain in its wake. The pain intensifies when you bite down or place pressure on the affected tooth. Additionally, you may experience tooth sensitivity when you eat hot or cold food and drinks. The pain can also originate from inflammation of the gums.
It can take as long as five years from the time a cavity begins to develop to when the tooth needs treatment to prevent the cavity from spreading further.
The antibiotic helps stop the infection from spreading and reduces swelling before your root canal. Both issues can also impact the effectiveness of the local anesthetic. If the infection is severe, it will not allow it to properly numb the area, which could make your procedure extremely painful.
If the deepest layers of the pulp become infected, it may be too late to save the tooth. In addition, if a large portion of the tooth is lost and a crown cannot be placed on what's left, root canal treatment is no longer a viable solution.
Your dentist may recommend a root canal when your tooth shows signs of infection or significant pulpal nerve damage. When a tooth is cracked or has a significant cavity, bacteria is able to enter the pulp, and if left untreated, can lead to serious infection, bone loss, or the loss of the tooth itself.
Are Antibiotics a Viable Alternative to Root Canal Therapy? In some cases, a tooth infection will react well to antibiotics and make root canal therapy redundant. However, in other cases, taking antibiotics will only delay the inevitable, and the patient will have to opt for a root canal treatment in the future.
A Root Canal Counts As An Emergency Dental Treatment
A root canal is typically considered to fall under the umbrella of emergency dentistry. Tooth infections are extremely painful and uncomfortable, and they can cause serious complications if they are left untreated, including the death of the infected tooth.
Delaying a root canal procedure can cause even more discomfort down the line as the infection is likely to spread. Leaving an infected root canal system untreated can result in an abscessed tooth, the pain of which can be incapacitating—and complications that can be serious, even life-threatening.
The need for a crown is typically determined by the amount of remaining tooth structure after a root canal. Generally, if more than half of the tooth is gone, a crown is indicated to restore the tooth's structural integrity.
Strong pain does not always mean that the patient needs a root canal treatment. In some cases, the tooth which requires the surgery, may not even hurt. When pain is present, however, this can indicate a necessity for a root canal.
One-Visit Approach
Modern tools and improved technology have made it possible to perform root canal in one visit. Also, the reasoning behind splitting the procedure into multiple sessions was to see if any flare ups occurred, and if not, it was sign you are ready for sealing.
While a filling is perfect to take care of minor cavities and tooth damage, a root canal is used when the infection has reached the pulp. The pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, is extracted when you acquire a root canal near you, the tooth is filled and a crown is often put in place afterwards.