5 Signs You May Need A Root Canal

When one of your teeth becomes damaged or infected on the inside, you need the right dental care. Symptoms start to intrude on your daily life, and without treatment, you could even lose the affected tooth. Infection in your mouth can also spread throughout your body, with potentially serious complications.

What you should know is that root canals, the typical treatment for internal infection or damage within a tooth, is a time-tested, dentist-trusted procedure. And, root canals aren’t nearly as painful or disruptive as myths about this type of care may have led you to believe. The symptoms of needing a root canal are likely to be a lot harder on you than actually going through the procedure.

The team of general and emergency dentists at Supertooth® Dental Group in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Germantown, Maryland, are here to help stabilize your oral health and get rid of your symptoms. What warning signs let you know that you need a root canal? Here are five symptoms that may indicate that you should schedule a root canal as soon as possible.

1. Persistent tooth pain

Pain is your body’s way of letting you know about potential health issues. If you experience significant or persistent tooth pain, you should reach out for professional care as soon as possible.

Don’t just ignore a toothache and hope it will go away. The team at Supertooth Dental Group examines your oral condition and assesses the type of treatment you need to feel better.

If a root canal is right for you, you should know that the procedure itself is pain-free. We provide you with a local anesthetic to maintain your comfort. And, while a root canal involves opening your tooth to work on the interior, only a small hole needs to be made for the specialized dental tools.

2. Sensitivity to heat and cold

It’s normal to notice the temperature of foods and beverages in your mouth. However, intense or lasting sensitivity to heat or cold in your teeth can indicate an underlying infection or other damage that needs treatment.

Why does sensitivity indicate a need for a root canal? Root canals address problems with the pulp of your tooth, a type of internal soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. Inflammation or infection in the pulp sets off sensitivity in the nerves.

3. Sensitivity to pressure

Do you feel pain or sensitivity when you bite down? If eating soft foods, or chewing gently, can still cause you pain, it’s time to call the dentist and schedule a root canal.

After the procedure, you won’t feel pain or sensitivity in the treated tooth. Once all inflamed or dead pulp has been removed, your provider at Supertooth Dental Group cleans the area thoroughly and fills the tooth with safe material before closing the access hole.

4. Internal discoloration

It’s easy for the outside of your teeth to stain due to foods and drinks. Professional cleaning or tooth-whitening treatment can often improve the brightness of your smile.

A warning sign to watch out for is internal discoloration that can’t be scrubbed away. This may indicate the presence of tooth decay and interior tooth damage, with a root canal needed for full dental restoration treatment.

5. Trouble with your gums

The gums around your teeth can signal a problem inside of a tooth that needs to be addressed with a root canal. Look out for bleeding, redness, pinkness, or tenderness in your gums.

If you need a root canal due to tooth decay, a tooth fracture, or stubborn inflammation that won’t go away without treatment, it’s far from the end of the world. In fact, after treatment, your oral health improves rapidly.

As soon as you notice any of these warning signs that you may need a root canal, contact Supertooth Dental Group and schedule an appointment. Call or book an appointment online today.