Today I’m going to be tackling one of the scariest treatment options in modern dentistry—the root canal. Week after week, year after year, our Glendale root canal dentists see the same thing; too many patients are terrified of root canal therapy! The truth is, root canals don’t need to be painful or frightening, because modern technology has made it possible for a root canal to be as comfortable as having a normal filling. Today I’m going to be giving you some things to look out for to ensure that you recognize serious dental problems and seek dental treatment promptly.
So what exactly is a root canal?
Root canal therapy is a necessary dental procedure performed when a tooth has become painfully infected and decayed. Dental enamel—the hard, white outer part of the tooth—protects dental pulp—the soft inside of the tooth filled with nerves, tissues, and blood vessels. Bacteria and sugars can break through dental enamel and infect the dental pulp, which causes pain. This infection is not necessarily limited to the tooth, eventually it can spread down the root of the tooth and into other oral tissues.
A dental professional will be able to determine whether you’re in need of root canal therapy. As a patient, you can be on the lookout for these signs that suggest dental infection:
· Intense tooth pain, especially when chewing
· Tooth pain from hot or cold substances
· Swollen gums
· An ongoing bump on the gumline
· A dull-looking, dark tooth
Root canal therapy can effectively treat the infected tooth, as long as it is treated early. Delaying root canal therapy can lead to more serious complications, such as bone loss and facial swelling. Patients frequently tell our Glendale root canal dentists that their treatment was no more painful than a normal filling. Don’t put your health at risk because of needless fear. As always, if you’d like more information about root canal therapy, or if you have any questions, give us a call at (818) 334-2974.