Why Might I Need a Root Canal?
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Hearing that you need a root canal may leave you with more questions than it answers. Our guide on why you might need a root canal should help clear a few things up! We will also take a look at some of the most common signs you should get checked for a dental infection.
A root canal treatment is a common dental procedure used to treat and clear out infection within a tooth. Inside each tooth is a layer of ‘pulp’, which is the soft nerve tissue that sits in the centre – working to keep the tooth healthy and alive. If the outer dentin layers protecting the pulp are compromised, this leaves the soft tissue susceptible to infection.
Once a tooth has become infected, it can quickly start to show signs of decay. A root canal treatment involves the removal of the infection, cleaning of the infection site, and the replacement of any removed dental matter with a filling or composite designed to prevent future infection. Many people have the misconception that a root canal treatment is extremely painful, though this is not the case. Your dentist should always take care to ensure you are as comfortable as possible throughout, and a local anaesthetic can be injected to minimise discomfort.
A root canal is usually recommended instead of a complete tooth extraction as dental professionals always try to keep the natural tooth structure intact, or save it where possible. This ensures patients’ natural smiles stay in place – and adding a crown on top of the restored tooth is easier to achieve, as well as much less invasive, than fully extracting and replacing the tooth. It’s also a much more functional and comfortable solution in the long-run.
Infections can happen when a tooth cracks, breaks or chips – but these do not always have to have occurred for an infection to take root. Below, we’ll discuss some of the common signs you may need a root canal treatment.
READ MORE: How to know you might have a dental cavity
Having a painful or overly sensitive tooth that persists for a while can be a sign you have an infection inside the tooth. Infections are caused by bad bacteria multiplying, which can also release harmful bacterial toxins that irritate the area. Pain is the body’s way of telling us something may be of concern. There are a couple of reasons dental infections hurt so much; because of the toxins and increased levels of inflammation; and pressure on the tooth as white blood cells are sent to fix the infection.
Although the soft tissue becomes inflamed and expands, the harder layers of dentin surrounding it have nowhere to go. This results in that sore, pressure-like feeling. Even the smallest amount of swelling can provoke pain due to the sensitivity of the nerve endings within our teeth. The pain can feel quite sharp, especially when eating or drinking hot or cold foods.
A root canal aims to immediately relieve the pain caused by the infection by clearing out the infected tissue and protecting it by sealing the tooth from future harm.
As we mentioned above, trauma to the tooth can lead to a break in the tooth’s protective outer layer – which leaves pulp potentially at risk of harbouring and growing bacteria. A chipped, fractured, or broken tooth may be one of the clearer signs you should have your tooth examined for inner damage caused by physical trauma.
A tooth infection is not always visible, however, so it is useful to be able to recognise the less obvious signs that your teeth may be more exposed to infection. Broken teeth should be checked over and fixed where possible, whether there is an infection or not, to avoid further damage or complications.
Infections involve the spreading of harmful bacteria and toxins, leading to not only unpleasant sensations and outcomes – but bad breath and a nasty taste, too. Many people take pride in their oral and dental hygiene, so when things start to seem ‘off’ it can be quite embarrassing.
If you suddenly notice you have foul breath or can taste an unpleasant taste in your mouth, and you haven’t switched up anything linked to your usual routine – infection may be to blame.
If you have not changed your dental hygiene routine, something else may be amiss. It is always best to speak to your dentist if you have any concerns, as they can more adequately assess and provide bespoke advice in person.
Tooth discolouration can be a sign part of the inner pulp in the tooth has died or become damaged. This can happen following trauma to the tooth, such as an accident where a tooth was cracked and the pulp begins to break down due to exposure. Tooth discolouration can, however, also be caused by a number of other factors – it is not always a sure sign of infection! Discolouration is a common symptom linked to smoking, drinking certain drinks, and even eating certain foods. These types of staining happen on the outside of the teeth rather than the inside, and can be polished away by a professional. These external types of stains can also be whitened away using either at-home or in-surgery professional teeth whitening techniques.
If you have discoloured teeth, it’s important to determine the causes behind this – as you wouldn’t want to risk missing an infection and letting it spread. Get in touch with your dentist if you have any concerns.
All the signs we have discussed above can signify a dental infection, and may need professional root canal treatment.
Even if the issue does not indicate infection or the need for a root canal, it’s worth having any concerns checked out! At Ringway Dental, we offer both cosmetic and general dentistry appointments, as a one-stop dental specialist for all our Greater Manchester patients.
To book an appointment with us, call us on 0161 437 2029. Our friendly team will work diligently to find you the best possible solution for your concerns.
