Happy Valentines day! We love teeth at Jamestown Dental but sometimes we find some of our patients have a love/hate relationship with their teeth. Especially when they flare up and cause our patients pain. One reason people get sore teeth is due pulpitis or dental abscesses. This can lead to you having to decide between having your tooth extracted or saving your tooth by having a root canal.
What is a root canal?
A “root canal” is a dental procedure is which we remove infected or inflamed soft tissues from within a tooth. This usually happens over a few visits and is finished when the cleaned out root canal is filled.
When do I need a root canal?
You need a root canal when the pulpal tissue in your tooth becomes damaged and irreversibly inflamed or infected. This may be due to having deep decay in your tooth, a deep filling or trauma.
What signs or symptoms may indicated I need a root canal?
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swollen gums
- Change in tooth colour
- “Pimple” on the gum
- Pain on biting
- Facial swelling
Does it hurt?
It is a common misconception that having a root canal hurts. Often when you need a root canal your tooth is very sore prior to having treatment. The treatment itself is often painless as it is performed under local anaesthetic. We often have patients fall asleep whilst we do root canals.
If you think you have a dental problem or might need a root canal you should book in early to see us at Jamestown Dental before it becomes more serious.
For more root canal information:
https://www.dhsv.org.au/dental-health/teeth-tips-and-facts/root-canal-treatment
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/root-canal-treatment
