When Do You Need A Root Canal?
At Ackley Dental Group, we encourage our patients to visit our office for regular oral hygiene examinations and cleanings. Most patients should visit us every six months, with some requiring more frequent visits due to certain conditions. If we recommended a dental treatment during your last visit, it is important that you schedule your appointment in a timely fashion. Delaying dental treatment can significantly harm your oral health and cause you to need more extensive treatment. One treatment that can save your tooth is a root canal.
What is a Root Canal?
Root canals get a bad rap. We want our patients to forget about the television and movie tropes that depict a root canal as a scary and painful treatment. A root canal can not only save your original tooth from extraction, but it will also eliminate the pain you are experiencing.
When a dental condition is not treated properly, decay will develop and continue to spread deep inside the tooth, eventually reaching the pulp — the part of the tooth that contains live tissue and nerves. During a root canal, your dentist removes the infected pulp and then cleans, disinfects, fills, and seals the root. If a root canal is not performed when needed, the last resort is to extract the tooth to remove the infection.
Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
Thankfully, your mouth often gives you warning signs before a serious emergency occurs. If you feel any discomfort, it is important that you contact us as soon as possible. This is particularly important if we recommended a treatment and you have yet to schedule your visit. You may also need a root canal if you experience trauma to the mouth. Should this occur, contact us immediately. If you are between appointments and start experiencing any of the following symptoms, we recommend visiting our office as soon as possible:
- Persistent sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages
- Swollen, tender gums
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Discomfort in teeth with existing fillings
Please don’t postpone treatment for a tooth that is causing you discomfort. If an infected tooth is left untreated, it will not heal on its own and cause more damage to your jaw and body over time. If you have not visited our office located in Spring Hill, FL recently or are feeling any tooth pain, please call us today to schedule your next appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!
