A root canal is a procedure that salvages a tooth after it experiences an infection or damage. When a tooth pulp starts to die, it can cause infection and rot, resulting in other worse complications. A root canal procedure gets rid of the infected pulp and fills the space with an inert substance. The tooth remains intact with a cap on the top.
How Long Does It Take to Heal?
The first few days after root canal therapy, the tooth may be sensitive.
After a root canal procedure, expect a couple of days of mild tenderness and soreness. If it is severe, your dentist may prescribe narcotics for additional numbing.
The pain should start to subside as time passes by. In many cases, you can manage the pain with pain relievers such as ibuprofen.
Some people may have a sore jaw after the treatment because the procedure needs them to open their mouths for a long period.
Why Root Canals Are Required
Persistent pain
Persistent tooth pain is a major sign that you may require a root canal. The tooth pain you experience may bother you all the time, or it comes and goes.
You may experience pain deep in the tooth bone, or you may experience referred pain in the jaw, face, or in the other teeth.
Apart from the root canal infection, tooth pain can have other causes, and they include: a cavity, gum disease, damaged filling, an impacted tooth with an infection, or referred pain from another problem like a sinus infection.
Make an effort to visit a dentist in San Antonio, TX, if you have persistent tooth pain.
Sensitivity to cold and heat
Does your tooth hurt when you drink coffee or eat warm food? Or does it feel sensitive when you consume ice cream or gulp down an icy-cold glass of water?
The sensitivity could be a sharp pain or a dull ache. You may require a root canal if the pain continues for a long period, even when you stop drinking or eating.
If the tooth hurts when you take something cold or hot, it can indicate that the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth are damaged or have an infection.
Tooth discoloration
A tooth can become discolored due to an infection in the pulp of the tooth.
Your tooth may take a grayish-black appearance when there is damage to the roots, which may be a result of tooth trauma or a breakdown of the internal tissue.
Although the discoloration can be due to other causes, it’s good to visit a dentist near you if you notice a change in color in your dentine.
Swollen gums
Swollen gums close to the painful tooth can be an indication that you need a root canal. The swelling might come and go. When you touch it, you may feel tenderness, or it may be painless.
You may also have an abscess, and pus may ooze out because of the infection in your tooth. This can cause bad breath and leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Pain when you touch the tooth or eat
If you experience sensitivity when you touch your tooth or eat, it could be a sign that you have nerve damage or tooth decay which may need root canal treatment. It may be necessary in a case where the sensitivity persists over a long period, and it still remains even after you stop eating.
Cracked or chipped tooth
If you chip or crack your tooth during an accident, when chewing on something hard, or in a contact sport, bacteria can set in and cause infection and inflammation.
Even if the tooth doesn’t crack or chip after an injury, it may still incur damage to the tooth’s nerves. You may need a root canal if the nerve becomes inflamed, causing pain and sensitivity.
Are you seeking root canals in San Antonio, TX? Then, Terrell Hills Dental is the perfect place for you.
How Painful Is It?
You may experience little or no pain because the dentist will give you local anesthesia to numb the gums and tooth to provide comfort during the procedure.
Suppose you require a root canal and have a fever or facial swelling; the dentist may give you antibiotics prior to kill the infection and help to relieve the pain.
People experience discomfort prior to the procedure because of the impacted tooth rather than the treatment itself in most situations.