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Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal Therapy in Rocky Mountain House
Local General Dentist in Rocky Mountain House, AB
Signs You Need a Root Canal
The symptoms that you may need a root canal often don’t present themselves quietly. Some of the signs you will often experience are when the root of your tooth has become infected and is in need of root canal therapy and treatment.
Pain When Biting or Chewing
While it’s normal to sometimes bite down the wrong way and experience a temporary jolt, this type of pain will likely be more severe and doesn’t ebb away with time. It may come and go, but it will always return. This pain might be local to the bone of your tooth but can also present itself in unexpected places. These places can include your face, jaw, and even your other teeth.
If you notice pain that feels like a severe toothache whenever pressure is applied, or you start to dread eating or snacking because it causes you pain, it’s time to book an appointment with our office. Solving the problem as quickly as possible will help avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort.
Discoloured Tooth
If the root of your tooth has become infected, it may cause that tooth to turn grey or black. This is caused by trauma and damage to the roots.
If you notice your tooth is discoloured or beginning to look off, don’t panic - an infection isn’t the only reason for a tooth to change colour. Our dentists will be able to determine exactly what’s going on as soon as you book your check-up appointment.
Loose Feeling
An infection can affect the functionality of your tooth, and even make it feel like it’s becoming loose.
Temperature Sensitivity
Experiencing extreme sensitivity to both cold and hot food can be an indication of an infection and nerve damage. While many people report having sensitive teeth, sensitivity caused by infection may feel like a sharp pain or aching. This pain may linger for extended periods of time, even after you’ve finished eating or drinking.
Tender or Swollen Gums
An infected tooth can cause the surrounding gums to become inflamed and sensitive.
Reasons for Root Canal Therapy
There are many clinical reasons for needing root canal treatment. Some of the most common ones are:
Infection in The Tooth
When your tooth becomes infected, this infection is slowly damaging the tooth from the inside. This means no amount of brushing or good hygiene will be able to solve the problem, and dental intervention is needed. A root canal treats and saves your tooth, and improves the chances of you being able to keep it for a long time.
An infected tooth will often cause pain and discomfort, and will only worsen with time. Infection in the pulp of your tooth can also improve your chances of contracting a gum infection, and that infection then spreads to the rest of your body. If you’re experiencing any pain, please let our dentists know so they’re able to move forward with a root canal as soon as possible.
Chipped or Cracked Teeth
Minor chips or cracks in your teeth don’t always require a root canal. However, a more severe crack that has spread to the pulp of your tooth can increase the chances of infection. A root canal will remove the damaged parts and work to protect the tooth, preventing tooth extraction if possible.
You may not always experience pain from a cracked tooth, but should still always have it evaluated. A lack of pain doesn’t necessarily mean perfect oral health.
If the crack in your tooth has spread to the gum line, it may be difficult or impossible to solve with a root canal and may need to be extracted. Please let our dentists know as soon as you notice a chip or crack for this reason.
Deep Decay
When tooth decay has spread to the pulp of your tooth, it needs to be cleaned out. Unfortunately, no amount of good dental hygiene such as flossing, brushing, or mouthwash will be able to reduce or get rid of the decay. Even the professional tools our office uses won’t be able to solve the problem.
Deep decay often occurs if a cavity has been neglected for a long period of time, and has then spread to the root of the tooth. This makes it even more important to practice good oral hygiene, and visit the dentist regularly to be evaluated for cavities. There are many steps that occur before a cavity can turn into the need for a root canal, so make sure to always come by our office when you think it’s needed, and express any concerns with any pain and sensitivity.
What to Expect from Root Canal Therapy
Many people don’t understand what goes into getting a root canal and are commonly a little intimidated by the term. That’s totally normal. Things to expect if you need root canal therapy on one or more of your teeth.
X-rays
Before your root canal is performed, our dentists take a few x-rays of the affected teeth to assess the damage in full and make sure a root canal is both possible and beneficial for you. An x-ray also shows the problem tooth in full, which will convey the severity of the issue.
Local Anesthetic
We want the procedure to be as comfortable and painless as possible, so a local anesthetic will be administered before anything is started. This will numb the area to minimize any discomfort or sensation during the procedure. Many patients in need of a root canal are often already experiencing pain, so an anesthetic is used to ease the process.
The Procedure
Once the affected tooth has been prepped, it’s time to remove the infected pulp. Your dentist then cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal before sealing the space to restore it back to maximum health and functionality. To finish the job, our dentists place a crown over the treated tooth.
