Nobody looks forward to root canal treatment; in fact, many people would rather risk their good oral health than agree to the procedure. Unfortunately, this reaction is often related to a negative experience with a root canal that someone had decades ago.
But everything about dentistry, from comfort to technology and techniques, has improved dramatically in recent years, meaning all the things you hated about root canals no longer apply.
The Truth about Root Canals
There are several reasons why a root canal might become necessary. Dental trauma, a fractured tooth, or decay that penetrates the inner portion of the tooth and reaches the pulp of your tooth can cause severe pain.
The only way to preserve the tooth at this point is with root canal treatment that eliminates the painful infection and saves the tooth from extraction. Despite what many people still believe, root canals don’t cause pain; they relieve it.
3 Signs That Mean You Need a Root Canal
The only way to know for sure if you need a root canal in Birmingham is to make an appointment with your dentist for an evaluation. But the following symptoms are a good indication of whether or not your tooth is infected:
- Severe pain – There are toothaches, and then there is the pain of an infected root canal. If your pain is so intense that you can’t function at all, there’s a good chance you need treatment.
- A bump on your gum – A dental abscess develops when the nerve of a tooth is dead or dying. It starts at the tip of your tooth root, and, without treatment, the abscess spreads and may appear as a pimple on your gum.
- Tooth sensitivity – If you have an infected root canal, you may experience extreme sensitivity to touch or hot or cold temperatures.
Please Call Cook Family Dental
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or it’s time for your six-month cleaning and exam, please call our office to arrange an appointment. If you are in pain, we will do our best to see you as quickly as possible, usually the same day.