Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Root Canal Pain

In terms of dental operations, a "root canal" tends to sound the worse for those who haven't had one or don't know what it is. Root canals are also known as endodontic treatments. We're here to break down some of the ideas around root canals, explaining what it is, how it feels, and what to expect.

There have been a lot of advancements in root canal treatment, and the procedure is safe, clean, and will leave you in a lot less root canal pain than you were in when you came in.

If you suspect that you'll have to have a root canal or your dentist has suggested that you might need an operation, you've come to the right place for the information you need.

So, what's a root canal? Let's find out.

First, we'll help you understand what a root canal is and how the issue develops.

The exterior of your teeth consists of an exterior layer of enamel and an interior layer of dentin. Enamel is what coats the top of your teeth and is white, porous, and vulnerable to degradation from the foods and substances that pass through your mouth.

Dentin is harder and lies underneath, constituting the bulk of your tooth. Inside both of these materials lies a kind of soft tissue called pulp. The pulp contains the nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue, and more that help our teeth grow and sense.

The pulp is essential to the growth and development of our teeth, but a fully-grown tooth can manage to stay healthy through the tissues around it if there's no pulp to draw from.

The pulp is liable to infection, decay, and death in some instances. Because the pulp is composed of blood vessels and nerves, infection and inflammation can become very uncomfortable and painful for those who experience them.

Signs of Inflamed or Infected Pulp

If you're someone who's wondering whether or not they may need a root canal, we've got some root canal symptoms for you to look at.

Regardless of if these signs fit your situation or not, it's important that you consult with a dentist if you've noticed any irregularities in your oral health.

The first sign to consider is any significant pain or discomfort while you're chewing or biting things. A cracked tooth is also a sign that your pulp is experiencing troubles. Further, significant sensitivity to heat and cold, sensitive gums, discoloration of the gums, and pimples on the gums are signs that you may need a root canal.

You may also need a root canal if you have a particularly deep cavity or issues from previous fillings. All of these root canal symptoms should warrant a trip to a dental expert's office.

Root Canal Procedure

A root canal is the process of eliminating the pulp from a damaged tooth. Again, an adult tooth can survive off of the support from the healthy tissue in surrounding teeth.

The pulp is removed and the interior of the tooth is carefully cleaned and sealed from further damage. It's important to remove damaged pulp because infected or inflamed pulp can cause a lot of pain as well as allow bacteria to enter and multiply.

Bacterial excess in teeth can lead to a number of destructive conditions. It can amplify the infection or lead to an abscess. An abscessed tooth occurs when bacterial puss grows in the root of a tooth, causing swelling that can travel all the way to your neck and face.

In some extreme cases, a tooth may need to be extracted altogether. This is necessary when a tooth has become so infected or damaged that it would continue to cause problems even after a root canal has been performed.

After a root canal has been performed, the remaining tooth is a little more delicate, which is why people are often given crowns to protect the tooth after the procedure.

Pain and Expectations

A lot of people imagine that a root canal is particularly painful. This rumor may come from the name "root canal" itself, or from the fact that the procedure was a little more painful in the past.

Advancements in root canal procedures have made the entire process relatively painless. The use of anesthesia and medicine makes the procedure very mild and manageable for those who go through it.

You can expect your mouth to be numb for a while after the procedure, though. You'll experience 2-4 hours of numbness before sensation starts to come back.

Another thing to consider is that you'll be able to go back to work or school almost immediately after the procedure is completed. Your primary restriction is that you should avoid eating before you have complete sensation again and try to avoid particularly hard foods for a while.

Costs

The exact cost of the procedure depends on the extent of the issue. Some root canal issues are more complex than others, requiring a more difficult procedure.

Additionally, molars are a little more difficult to treat and the fee for procedures is generally more. A nice thing to keep in mind is that endodontic treatment is extremely common, and any dental insurance policy is likely to have coverage of some kind.

If you're debating on whether to get a root canal or remove and replace the tooth altogether, consider the following points. Removing a tooth and replacing it is significantly more expensive because of the costs of creating and adding a new tooth.

Getting a root canal and restorative treatment is by and large cheaper in most cases. This is something to consult with your insurance provider about to see what is covered in relation to what you want to do.

Additionally, check with your preferred dentist or consult with a dental office to see what their options and costs are.

If you're in root canal pain, it's imperative that you consult with professionals soon. The pain isn't likely to go away until you have an operation to attack the root problem. We're here to help.

Contact us to learn more about your options and what to expect from a root canal procedure.