Hopefully, your trips to the dentist this year will only be for routine cleanings to maintain optimal dental health. However, for some people, annual dental care will involve a trip to the endodontist for root canal therapy.
Signs You Need Root Canal Therapy
While the outside of the tooth is tough and hard, the inside is made of a soft pulp. The pulp's blood supply nourishes the tooth and helps to keep it alive. The pulp can become infected if decay is left untreated, or the nerve can die if it the tooth is cracked or damaged. Root canal therapy can preserve the tooth, and prevent further pain and decay.
The Basics of Endodontic Treatment
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on diseases of the tooth's pulp and in the root canals, which are located in the root of each tooth. Removing the pulp of the tooth is often referred to as root canal therapy or root canal treatment. It's most commonly called a “root canal,” which is technically not correct – the root canals are the parts of the tooth that are treated, not the endodontic treatment itself.
You may know you need endodontic treatment right away; the common symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable.
“You would know you need root canal therapy if you have any of the following symptoms,” says Dr. Sinanan, an endodontist and HealthChoicesFirst.com partner. “For example, if you have a very severe response to anything cold, like a cold drink or ice. Or, if you have a very severe response to anything hot, like a cup of coffee, or if you cannot bite on the tooth or touch the tooth.”
In addition to sensitive teeth, another reason that you might need a root canal is if you have spontaneous pain: a sudden, severe episode of pain in a tooth that occurs for no reason. Keep in mind, some patients have no symptoms at all, and will only discover they need endodontic treatment when a dentist does an oral examination and takes X-rays.
Whether you have symptoms or not, if you need root canal therapy, don't delay your appointment with an endodontist. If left untreated, infection can spread in the tooth and the gum tissue will begin to decay. If you delay endodontic treatment, eventually, the tooth will die and fall out.
“If you think you need a root canal, consult your general dentist or present directly to an endodontist,” says Dr. Sinanan.
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