Root Canal Therapy | Do I need it

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Many people that have a toothache, fear the worst – that they will need a root canal. Just hearing the term “root canal” causes people to tense up and wish they were anywhere but in the dental chair. The fact is, root canal therapy is not as horrible as it sounds and that it is a very common procedure used to instantly relieve tooth pain and save the tooth.

The common symptoms that indicate you may need root canal therapy are;

1. Swelling
Swelling may occur around the tooth or deep in the jaw. Many patients will notice a bubble forming on the gum tissue that is filled with puss and blood. The bubble may be soft or hard. If the bubble appears, do not try to squeeze the bubble or use a toothpick to try and pop it. Instead, take a Q-tip or your finger and gently massage the bubble until it breaks open. Sometimes gently brushing your teeth will cause the bubble to pop. Once the bubble pops, you will feel some relief in the tooth. However, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible for treatment. Some patients may not have a bubble appear on the gum tissue, but will show signs of swelling in the jaw as if they were hit in the face with an object.

2. Constant, unforgiving tooth pain.
The pain might feel like a dull ache or more intense as if the tooth seems to throb with every heartbeat.

3. Severe tooth pain that feels better when something cold is applied to the tooth and increases when something hot is applied to the tooth.

4. The pain is worse when you lie down and reduces when you are upright.

5. Tooth pain that seems to make your head, ear(s), eye(s), or neck hurt as well.

6. Pain when chewing or biting down on something. Even soft foods can seem to irritate the tooth causing soreness or severe pain.

7. Tooth sensitivity to sweets.

8. Pain that lasts for a long time after something cold is consumed.

Why do I need root canal therapy?

For one reason or another, usually due to trauma and/or decay, the pulp, (most commonly referred to as the nerve), has become irritated or infected. When this happens, the tooth can become very painful. In order to relieve the pain and save the tooth from having to be extracted, root canal therapy is recommended. Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure in which the pulp is removed, thus relieving the pain and removing the infection caused by bacteria.

When the irritated or infected, (abscessed), tooth is left untreated, the tooth may become very painful. If there is active infection present, the bacteria that is causing the infection can cause swelling as well as destroy healthy bone tissue over time. Patients may also feel sick or weak because their body is trying to fight an infection, just like it would as if the infection occurred anywhere else in the body. If left untreated for too long, the tooth may not be able to be saved and the tooth will need to be extracted.

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above or you have a tooth that just doesn't seem to feel quite right, schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will take a look at your teeth, take an x-ray, and if it is not clear as to exactly which tooth is the problem tooth, there are several diagnostic tests that your dentist can perform to help determine which tooth is causing the problem. Once the tooth is diagnosed and indeed does require root canal treatment, either your dentist will perform the procedure or refer you to a specialist known as an Endodontist for further treatment.

Should you experience severe tooth pain and over the counter pain relievers are not effective in relieving the pain or at least taking the edge off until your dental appointment, call your dentist or seek treatment at an emergency clinic or hospital. If you experience any swelling, seek treatment right away. If your dentist is unavailable, your physician can prescribe an antibiotic and a pain reliever until your dental appointment.

Most importantly, the pain and swelling from an abscessed tooth will not go away on its own. The pain will get much worse and become more frequent, before it gets any better, if it gets better at all. This is why it is very important to have any problem tooth, no matter how minor the problem may seem, examined by your dentist right away.