What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal or endodontic treatment is designed to save an infected tooth from extraction. The aim is to save a tooth in which the nerve or blood supply has been infected by decay, crack, leaking filling or dental trauma.
During the procedure, the infected pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a protective crown.
This treatment can relieve pain and save your natural tooth, preventing the need for extraction and replacement with a bridge or implant.
How Do I Know If I Need Root Canal Treatment?
If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, you may be in need of a root canal. Facial swelling, abscess, or swelling of the gum adjacent to the tooth is also a tell-tale sign.
Other symptoms include:
- Lingering pain when biting on the tooth
- Pain with heat
- Progressive discoloration of the tooth
Your dentist will closely examine the tooth and take an x-ray to see what is happening under your gum. Vitality tests are conducted to determine whether a root canal treatment is the most appropriate treatment.
Sometimes, curiously, there may be no symptoms from an infected tooth that you are aware of. This is where regular dental check-ups with X-Rays are important in order to identify and treat such teeth before they give rise to symptoms.