Usually, it’s not easy for people to figure out what exactly is causing their dental problems and how they should fix them. This proves to be especially true when we’re talking about issues that require restorative dentistry. If you’re in this situation, visit a dental clinic near you to have the issue checked out. Remember, the sooner dental professionals can step in the better as they will be able to come up with a great treatment plan just for you.
Also if you’re having symptoms, it might be a sign that the problem is more advanced than you think. When teeth become badly decayed, the pulp gets infected. The pulp is a structure composed of nerves and blood vessels, and when it becomes damaged it needs to be removed to save the teeth. This procedure is known as a root canal and it’s used by a dentist when they want to preserve and restore teeth that suffered a dental problem.
Nothing will compare to the expertise of a qualified dental professional. However, here are a few signs that could mean it’s time for you to have a root canal.
A cracked tooth
People frequently crack their teeth by eating hard foods. The chipped surface is the perfect place for bacteria to enter and infect the root. After an infection has reached the root of the tooth, it can easily spread through the bloodstream, which can cause more serious health conditions. It’s a serious concern, so pay a visit to your dentist in York as soon as you can if you have cracked a tooth.
Swollen gums
Sometimes dental problems affect the gum area surrounding the damaged teeth. The gums can get bumpy, red, or painful. The inflammation can mean you have issues below the surface that need to be addressed. Your dental professional will be able to assess the situation and decide if a root canal can solve the issue in your gums.
Hot and cold sensitivity
Another sign that gives away the fact that you might eventually be a candidate for a root canal is tooth sensitivity to temperatures. The most common symptom is a sharp pain caused when you bite on both cold and hot foods and beverages. This condition is usually treated with desensitizing toothpaste. However, root canals are last-resort measures in cases where other methods don’t work.
Pain that doesn’t go away
If you can’t go about your day without feeling pain or discomfort in your teeth, then it’s time to act. Persistent pain in your teeth that bothers you every time you eat, drink or talk means you should make an appointment with your dentist.
Discolouration of the tooth
Stains on the surface of the tooth can cause discolouration, but it could also mean something more serious. A tooth can also turn black due to severe decay when the infection causes nerve damage. This eventually kills the nerve leading to discolouration. The tooth can turn grey or even black.
Severe decay
This is another scenario that could lead you to need this procedure. Deep decay allows the bacteria to travel to the inside of the tooth and infect the root. After the decay has settled into the root of your tooth, only a root canal can save it.
Persistent tooth sensitivity
If you’ve been suffering from tooth sensitivity for months without any signs of improvement, then it might be time to get a root canal in York. Chronic tooth sensitivity probably means the nerves present in the root of the tooth are permanently damaged. Once they get to this stage they won’t heal on their own and the pulp needs to be extracted.