Do I Need a Root Canal? 5 Signs to Watch Out For!

Root canal treatment in Red Hill, Victoria, is a standard procedure for treating infection or inflammation of the pulp inside a tooth. It provides immediate pain relief and saves your tooth from extraction. But how do you know you need this tooth-saving procedure? Red Hill Dental Practice discusses five common signs that indicate you need to see a root canal dentist.

1. Tooth pain

A toothache is the tell-tale sign that your tooth is infected and needs a root canal. You may feel sharp or throbbing pain, especially when eating or applying pressure to the tooth. As the infection progresses, pressure inside the pulp chamber can increase. This pressure heightens nerve sensitivity, so your tooth feels tender when touched.

Pain is a sign that something is wrong with your tooth. Schedule an appointment with a Red Hill dentist to determine the underlying cause. 

2. Tooth Sensitivity

Your tooth is likely infected if you experience lingering sensitivity after consuming cold and hot drinks. Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber filled with soft tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. When decay or trauma allows harmful bacteria to enter the pulp, it triggers inflammation. This irritation makes the nerves more sensitive to temperature changes.

3. Tooth discoloration

Several factors can cause tooth discoloration. Diet, lifestyle choices, and aging can cause yellow, dark, or brown stains on your smile. However, when you notice discoloration on one tooth, the cause could be more than your daily cup of coffee. 

A tooth infection can cause discoloration. An untreated infection can eventually destroy the nerve, leading to pulp necrosis (nerve death). A dead pulp means the blood supply is cut off, so your tooth may appear brown or dark. When you spot a tooth much darker than the rest, visit your dentist for a diagnosis. 

4. Swollen gums

Are your gums tender or swollen around the painful tooth? It’s a sign that your tooth infection has spread to the surrounding tissues. In a healthy mouth, gums don’t become swollen or tender without a cause. So, visit your dentist when you notice your gums are redder or puffy than usual

5. Signs of dental abscess 

When you notice a pocket of pus (pimple-like swelling) on your gums, it could be a dental abscess, a bacterial infection typically resulting from an untreated dental infection. Throbbing pain that may radiate to the jaw, ear, or neck is one of the most telling symptoms of an abscess. A dental abscess is a serious condition and needs urgent treatment. The dentist may recommend a combination of antibiotics, draining the abscess, and root canal treatment to address the infection. 

Bonus tip: You may need a root canal without any symptoms. Early on, the infection causes pain and sensitivity. However, once the nerve completely dies, the tooth may become numb and asymptomatic. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean you are out of the woods yet. The infection is still present and continues to cause damage without a root canal. 

Meet your Red Hill root canal dentist!

Experiencing one of the above signs? Don’t wait any longer. Take action today and schedule a consultation with Red Hill Dental Practice. We blend gentle care and advanced technology to provide safe and painless root canals to residents in Red Hill, Flinders, Sorrento, Boneo, Balnarring, and beyond. Call (03) 5907 5942 and book your appointment now!

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