Root canal therapy is a popular and effective dental treatment that can rescue an abscessed or extremely decayed tooth at the facility for dental care in Brookline. There are certainly some telltale signs that can give you an idea about whether or not you may need a root canal, and when we catch it early treatment is always going to go smoother. Understanding these signs and speaking with a local dentist in Brookline can save you from further problems down the road.
1. Persistent Tooth Pain
Persistent tooth pain is one of the most prevalent and obvious indicators that you may require a root canal. This discomfort may be continuous or sporadic, with varying degrees of severity. When you consume or put pressure on the impacted tooth, it usually gets worse.
- Location: The jaw, cheek, or even the ear may experience pain that originates in the tooth.
- Pain Types: Severe, piercing, or throbbing pain that persists even after consuming food or liquids.
2. Sensitivity to Hot and Cold
Another sign that you may require a root canal is increased sensitivity to hot and cold conditions. When you drink anything hot or cold or when you eat something cold, and the discomfort stays after you’ve completed your meal or drink, it may indicate that your tooth is infected or has nerve damage.
- Duration: Sensitivity that lasts longer than a few seconds.
- Severity: Severe discomfort that does not resolve easily
3. Swollen Gums
Gum swelling or tenderness around the tooth can potentially signal an infection down in the root of this tooth, and hence it may need a root canal. Other symptoms may be associated with this swelling, and the person might experience:
- Redness: the gum tissue looks inflamed and reddened
- Pain: the injured area becomes painful when touched or pressed.
- Abscess: Pus in gums which indicates a potentially life-threatening infection.
4. Discoloration of the Tooth
A dark color (to the rest of our coloring) indicates a tooth that has lost internal vitality and may be dying. This darkening often occurs when a tooth has been internally exposed to bacteria via an untreated cavity or through trauma.
- Color change: An affected tooth may be gray or brown (most often seen) sometimes it becomes a darker shade of yellow.
- Root Cause: Usually caused by bleeding inside the teeth or damage to nerve tissue.
5. Prolonged Tooth Sensitivity
Your tooth is overly sore to the touch and throbbing for a prolonged period indicating nerve damage or inflammation. Unlike normal tooth sensitivity that may come and go quickly, this takes a bit of time before subsiding so if you did need dental implants to replace those teeth it would be very uncomfortable.
Type of Sensitivity: Pain on contact with the tongue or biting.
Length of time: sensitivity that lasts weeks or months.
Treatment Options in Brookline
These signs indicate that you need to visit a dentist in Brookline soon. A dentist may recommend a root canal to save the tooth and avoid spreading infection throughout your mouth or other parts of your body, given an early diagnosis. The dentist in Brookline is well-versed with advanced technology and treatment of root canals that can assist you in providing brilliant service for those troubling teeth requirements.
As long as you know some of the most common signs indicating that it is time to get a root canal, then you can potentially save your infected tooth before complications arise. Chronic bad breath, deep decay, and pus that forms pimples on the gums are all signs of disease processes that your dentist should be consulted. Our early intervention combined with expert care can mean the difference between losing a tooth or salvaging both your tooth and oral health in Brookline. If you experience any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with your dentist to learn more about potential treatments.