Do you have any signs and symptoms that may indicate that you need a root canal? Every year, more than 22 million people receive the
tooth-saving treatment, according to the American Society of Endodontists. Our Kissimmee, FL, dentist, Dr. Vincent Grosso, offers root canal therapy and other dental treatments that help his patients improve their oral health.
Do you know common root canal signs?
Although a visit with your Kissimmee dentist is the best way to determine the cause of your symptoms, a few things often occur if you have an inflammation or infection in your tooth pulp.
Severe, throbbing pain can occur if you need a root canal, but the ache in your tooth may seem mild at first. Any pain in a tooth should always prompt you to call the dentist. Pain can occur for a variety of reasons ranging from a cavity to a crack in a tooth to an infection. Once pain occurs, your tooth won't get better without a little help from your dentist.
If you have an inflammation or infection in your pulp, you may notice that mealtime has become particularly painful. Chewing exerts pressure on teeth and can cause increased pain. Hot and cold beverages and foods often irritate an inflamed or infected tooth, sending jolts of pain through your mouth for as long as 30 minutes after you finish eating or drinking.
Healthy teeth don't normally change color. If one tooth darkens, it's safe to assume that you have a problem that warrants a dental visit. An infection or inflammation can also affect the gum tissue surrounding your tooth. You may notice that your gum is red, swollen, and painful if there's an issue with your tooth pulp.
If you experience a dental abscess, a bacterial infection in your pulp, you may experience worsening pain, fever, a pimple-like bump on your gum, facial swelling, and swollen lymph nodes. Without immediate treatment, your infection can spread to other parts of your body, including your heart and brain. Luckily, dental abscesses can be successfully treated with antibiotics and root canal therapy if you call the dentist when you first notice these symptoms.
Root canal therapy will end your painful symptoms by removing the pulp, thoroughly cleaning the interior of the tooth and root canals, then replacing the pulp with a rubber-based filling.
Save your tooth with root canal therapy. Call our Kissimmee, FL, dentist, Dr. Grosso, at (407) 350-5969 to schedule your appointment.